Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698930229867.pdf (South Africa)
Wednesday, 31 May 2023] No 76—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA _____________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS _____________________ WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2023 _____________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly 1.

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Appointment of Whips .................................................................................................... 2 Discharge of Whips ......................................................................................................... 2 Referral to Committees of papers tabled ......................................................................... 2 TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.
Speaker and Chairperson ................................................................................................. 3 COMMITTEE REPORTS National Assembly 1.

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Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development ......................................................... 4 Police .............................................................................................................................. 27 1 3.
Human Settlements ........................................................................................................ 38 4.

Transport ........................................................................................................................ 55 National Council of Provinces 1.

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements ..................................................................................................................... 64 Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture .................................................... 71 Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture .................................................. 131 ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly The Speaker 1.
Appointment of whips (1) The following members have been appointed as whips of the African National Congress in the National Assembly with effect from 29 May 2023: Gela, A Mkhwanazi, JCN Mananiso, JS Maseko-Jele, NH Molala, LE Ntuli, MM Phiri, C Ramadwa, MM 2.

Discharge of whips (1) The following members have been discharged as whips of the African National Congress in the National Assembly with effect from 29 May 2023: Dyantyi, QR Kubheka, NJ Lesoma, RMM 3.
Referral to Committees of papers tabled (1) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services: (a) Proclamation No R. 120, published in Government Gazette No 48659, dated 25 May 2023: Commencement of certain sections of the Legal Practice Act, 2014 in terms of the Legal Practice Act, 2014 (Act No 28 of 2014).
(2) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration for consideration: 2 (a) Report of the Public Service Commission on the Investigative Analysis into the Enablers and Inhibitors of Job Performance of the Senior Management Service in the Public Service – September 2022.

TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.
The Speaker and the Chairperson (a) Submission of the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the Division of Revenue Bill for 2024/25, tabled in terms of section 9(1) of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations Act, 1997 (Act No 97 of 1997), as amended.

(b) Consolidated General Report of the Auditor-General on the Local Government Audit Outcomes for 2021-22.
(c) Commission for Gender Equality: Assessing the Effectiveness of the Gender Focal Persons/Points in South Africa: Government’s Response to Gender Findings and Recommendation 2023.

(d) Commission for Gender Equality: Missing pieces of the Puzzles-CGE’s assessment of the government 2023.

(e) Commission for Gender Equality: Learner Pregnancy-Policy interplay: school dropout of adolescent girl during pregnancy and in the postpartum period in selected South African 2023.
(f) Commission for Gender Equality: Activity Report on the Maputo Protocol 2023.

(g) Commission for Gender Equality: Sharing is Caring: Gender Responsive Planning Budgeting Experiences and Lessons from Africa – 2023.

(h) Commission for Gender Equality: Report on Gender Transformation: Public and Private Sectors 2022/23.

(i) Commission for Gender Equality: Progress Report: Transformation in the Public and Private Sectors 2022/2023.
(j) Commission for Gender Equality: Final Report: Investigation into the State of Shelters 2022/2023.

COMMITTEE REPORTS National Assembly 3 1.

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ON AN OVERSIGHT TO MPUMALANGA PROVINCE FROM 29 - 31 MARCH 2023, DATED 30 MAY 2023.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, having conducted an oversight visit to Mpumalanga Province, from 29 to 31 March 2023, reports as follows: 1.
INTRODUCTION The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development conducted an oversight visit to Mpumalanga Province from 29 – 31 March 2023.

Following the challenges that various sectors of the economy faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the President announced the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) to revive the economy and address increasing unemployment.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development received R1 billion in order to assist and provide relief to distressed farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there have been challenges that have been reported by some farmers in accessing and redeeming some of the PESI vouchers.
The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development then conducted an oversight visit to Mpumalanga Province to obtain insights into the implementation and impact of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) on the agricultural sector in that province.
The Committee further sought to oversee the development of agricultural infrastructure that will enable market access for emerging farmers by visiting Farmer Production Support Units; and interventions to improve surveillance and control of foot and-mouth disease (FMD), which has a negative impact on the export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products.

1.1.
1.1.

The significance of oversight on farmer development and support The National Development Plan (NDP), an overarching government policy document that sets goals which South Africa should achieve by 2030, set to ensure that there would be integrated rural areas where residents will be economically active, have food security, access to basic services, healthcare and quality education.

One of the strategic objectives is job creation, which 1 4 is set to alleviate unemployment and poverty.
During the 2020/21 financial year, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) received R1 billion of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) funds from the National Treasury (NT) to support 74 626 subsistence producers with agricultural production inputs nationally, up to 31 March 2021.
Following PESI reports received from DALRRD, the Committee noted that a total of 53 285 PESI applicants were physically verified as subsistence farmers and issued vouchers during the 2020/21 financial year.

The Department applied for the roll-over of R243 million that was not spent in order to finalise the support to the remainder of the PESI applicants, which the National Treasury agreed to.
During the 2021/22 financial year, the Department also responded to the call made by the National Treasury (NT) to all national government departments to apply for the second phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES-2).
The NT allocated R750 million to DALRRD as part of the PES-2 to support household producers (vulnerable and subsistence), smallholder and medium-scale commercial producers in response to the focus areas on livelihoods and self-employment, catalytic interventions and public employment, respectively.

However, the DALRRD reported to the Committee that it decided to continue with supporting only subsistence producers, which was the case with the first phase of PES (PES-1).

1.2.
1.2.

Composition of the delegation A multiparty delegation of 8 Committee Members supported by different teams of Parliamentary Officials as reflected in Table 1 below participated during the oversight visit.
Table 1: Committee delegation during the oversight Members of Parliament Political Party Support Designation Officials Nkosi ZMD Mandela African National Ms P Nyamza Committee Secretary (Chairperson/leader Congress Ms N Mgxashe Content Advisor: of the delegation) Agriculture 2 5 Ms MME Tlhape, Mr. N Capa, Ms B Tshwete Ms TM Mbabama Democratic Mr H Kruger Alliance Dr T Manenzhe Content Advisor: Land Reform & Rural Development Ms N Qwabe Researcher: Agriculture Ms T Pepeteka Researcher: Land Reform & Rural Development Ms C Maledu Committee Assistant Outsourced Language Practitioners Mr. NS Matiase Economic Ms N Communication Officer Freedom Fighters Magwagwa Mrs. T Breedt Freedom Front Mr D De Plus Villiers and Mr R Reagan Protection Services Officials The delegation was also accompanied by relevant government officials from the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), Mpumalanga Provincial Shared Services Centre (PSSC), Project Officers and Extension Officers.
1.3.

Structure of the report This report presents an account of a three-day oversight visit conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development at Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga from the 29 – 31 March 2023.

It documents the delegation’s engagement with presentations made during briefing sessions and observations made during project site visits where the delegation interacted with project officers, extension officers and the beneficiaries of PESI and FPSUs.
Following this introduction, the report proceeds as follows: • Section 2 outlines the Terms of Reference; 3 6 • Section 3 presents a summary of inputs by the departments and observations from the project sites the delegation visited; • Section 4 highlights observations of the Committee; and • Section 5 concludes by proposing recommendations to the National Assembly for the attention of the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

2.
2.

TERMS OF REFERENCE Oversight activities of the Committee are based on Section 55(2) of the Constitution which provides that “The National Assembly must provide for mechanism - (a) to ensure that all executive organs of the state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it; and (b) to maintain oversight of - (i) the exercise of national executive authority, including the implementation of legislation; and (ii) any organ of state”.

The Executive is obliged to account on its actions.
Oversight visits thus constitute a myriad of mechanisms available to the Committee for exercising its constitutional mandate to hold the executive accountable.

2.1 Specific objectives of the oversight visit The oversight visits specifically sought to - a) Oversee the implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) including the distribution of resources and support provided by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to beneficiary farmers.
b) To assess the impact of PESI on the livelihoods and sustainability of emerging farmers that have benefitted from the Initiative.

c) Assess interventions to improve surveillance and control of disease outbreaks such as the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

d) Assess the impact of climate change and climate change-related disasters on agricultural production and farming communities including Government’s response to the impact.
e) Review progress regarding the development of Agri-Parks through the Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) and implementation of FPSU-linked projects.

2.2 Committee approach and sites selection 4 7 The Committee adopted an oversight schedule that entailed briefing sessions with the national and provincial departments, project visits and interactions with beneficiaries.
In its interactive approach, the Committee sought to immerse itself into the lived experiences and realities of farmers and beneficiaries.

Sections of this report will, to a large extent, record the observations of the Committee.

Therefore, engagement with beneficiaries, observation of facilities and how beneficiaries go about doing their work was central to the approach.
This oversight visit, however, should not be seen in isolation from other committee activities; for example, briefing sessions by the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and Budget Votes briefings where relevant background information was discussed.

Over the three days of the oversight visit, the Committee interacted with project officers and visited PES beneficiaries and facilities as illustrated below.

Table 2.
List of beneficiaries and sites visited Date Project Name Programme 29/03/2023 30/03/2023 • Ms Ntombifuthi Khoza – Vegetables • Ms Thandekile Mavuso – Broilers and layers • Salubindza Dip Tank, FMD Protection Zone • Redline Fence at Numbi Gate (Kruger National Park) • Thulamahashe Packhouse • Huntington Packhouse • Beauty Mokoena – Vegetables • Lalamang Siwele – Groundnuts, grains and pigs • Schulzendal Livestock PES FMD FPSUs PES 31/03/2023 Association – Earth dam on Flood disaster grazing land 5 8 • KwaMdladla Village – Sugarcane irrigation system (Sambo Brothers) 3.
SUMMARY OF INPUTS BY THE DEPARTMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE PROJECT SITES 3.1 Inputs by the DALRRD on the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) This section summarises inputs of the DALRRD with regard to the assessment on the implementation and impact of the PES programme on the agricultural sector.

The Deputy Director-General (DDG) from DALRRD, Dr Moeng, reported that PES beneficiaries have been added to the Farmer Register, which contains more than 80 000 smallholder farmers.
Support through PES was not going beyond 1 hectare (ha).

Cooperatives were given support not as groups but as individuals because that is how the system is designed.

The exclusion in terms of other support programmes such as the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema applies within a financial year.

If a farmer received for example, CASP support in the previous year but not in the current year, he/she qualifies to receive PES in the current year.
Most farmers in Mpumalanga are diversifying and farm with different commodities.

As they are supported according to commodity, it might seem like they are double-dipping.

The total number of PES vouchers that have been issued nationally at the time of reporting was 104 906.

In Mpumalanga, the Department supported farmers from three district municipalities through PES.

About 4 233 subsistence farmers were supported at Ehlanzeni District Municipality, 1 940 in Gert Sibande and 2 960 in Nkangala.
The total value of vouchers issued among the three districts was R76 837 041.

Ehlanzeni received a share of R46 563 439, Gert Sibande a sum of R16 196 216 and Nkangala was awarded R14 077 386.

Three categories (Solidarity fund, previous applicants of PES ad the roll-over applicants) of subsistence farmers received vouchers during 2020/21 and 6 9 2021/22 financial years, thus resulting in the number of redeemed vouchers to be higher than the number of beneficiaries.

Table 3.
The table below illustrates the issuing and redemption of vouchers per district Items Districts Ehlanzeni Gert Sibande Nkangala Farmers supported 4 233 1 940 2 960 Total 9 133 in 2020/2021 Number supported 6 173 2 960 3 419 12 552 2020/2021 Value of vouchers R46 563 439 R16 196 216 R14 077 386 R76 837 041 issued Number of 9 634 5 023 5 772 20 429 vouchers redeemed Support per Commodity Fruit and Vegetables Grains Poultry Small livestock Large livestock 2 765 1 678 1 940 6 383 2 312 726 258 112 496 395 182 209 422 414 332 319 3 230 1 535 772 640 The National Department commissioned Mezzanine, a subsidiary of Vodacom for rebuilding the list of agro-dealers for their participation in the redemption of PES vouchers.
Mezzanine was responsible for managing the uploading, activating and updating of associated service points, system users, stock items and their prices.

The Department together with Mezzanine developed a checklist of selection criteria for compliance by agro-dealers aspiring to participate in the voucher redemption process of the PES.
The Department reported that it has monitoring and evaluation (M&E) 7 10 information of the PES programme implementation as the Monitoring and Evaluation Tool is within DALRRD.

However, monitoring and evaluation information was not presented or submitted to the Committee as requested.
3.2 Input by DARDLEA’s Veterinary Services on veterinary capacity, placement of Compulsory Community Service Veterinarians and FMD Control and Surveillance The Chief Director for Veterinary Services at the provincial Department (DARDLEA), Dr Cele, presented an overview of the provincial veterinary capacity and FMD control measures.

On average, the only Veterinary Faculty in the country, based in the University of Pretoria, produces approximately 150 Veterinarians (Vets) per year.
Mpumalanga Province at the time of the visit reportedly had 16 State Vets out of the required 36 (56% vacancy rate); and was losing Vets at a rate of 2 every 3 months to the private sector.

Remuneration is one of the main reasons State Vets leave the Public Service for the private sector.

Mpumalanga is also the first province to employ Veterinary Nurses in the Public Service in 2008.

At the time of the visit, it had 15 out of the approved structure of 20 Veterinary Nurses.
The Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme for Veterinary graduates has greatly assisted the Province in terms of capacity since its inception in 2016.

The Provinces places 25 CCS Vets on an annual basis; and retains on average 5 Vets (mostly bursary holders) from the CCS pool of 25.

The Province does career campaigns on the Veterinary profession in schools (from primary school level) and even have some learners that were introduced to the Veterinary profession at primary school that are now Vets.
The province has 25 permanent Veterinary Facilities (comprising of offices and clinics) and 10 Mobile Veterinary Clinics (7 from DALRRD and 3 from Provincial Department).

FMD Control and Surveillance Mpumalanga is one of the three provinces that are endemically infected with Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) due to the perpetual presence of infected buffaloes in Kruger National Park.
These buffaloes also have a high prevalence of corridor disease (a killer tick-borne disease with no treatment), tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis.
Due to the presence of the FMD virus, the Province was divided into disease control zones for management of the disease: 8 11 • Infected zone (vaccinations, weekly inspections, movement controls, quarantine) • Protection zone (Protection zone with vaccination and protection zone without vaccination) • Free zone (no vaccinations practiced: entire Nkangala and Gert Sibande); regular inspections practiced at borderline areas and farms.
The 2022 FMD outbreak was detected at Victor Khanye Local Municipality (Nkangala District), which was traditionally in an FMD Free Zone as per the World Organisation for Animal Health.

About 26 073 animals were affected and the source was traced from a feedlot in Gauteng.

The feedlot was put under quarantine and an FMD Campaign Strategy was developed within a 3 km zone of the infection and 10 km zone for surveillance (clinical and serological).
The Control Strategy during the outbreak involved: • Vaccination of all cloven hoofed animals on the farm (26 073): cattle mainly (a few small stock kept as pets also vaccinated) from 5th until 19th August 2022.

• Surveillance (clinical and serological) was ongoing to monitor spread.

• Movement restriction/control (including quarantine of farm and adjacent farms instituted.

• Red-cross permits issued for direct slaughter to designated abattoir (Springs).
• Adjacent farms quarantined until risk was eliminated and lifted on 12 December 2022 after it was cleared.

• Controlled slaughter of all vaccinated animals started on 29 September 2022.

• Slaughter involved inspection, clinical and serological surveillance.

• The process was completed on 15 March 2023.


In Ehlanzeni District (Ehlanzeni North and South) the Provincial Department continues with routine vaccinations in designated high risk areas bordering Eswatini, Mozambique, Limpopo Province, Kruger National Park (KNP) and its adjacent farms.

The last outbreak in Ehlanzeni District was in Bushbuckridge in March 2020, in a vaccination zone.

That outbreak was eradicated after intense vaccination campaign.
9 12 In Gert Sibande District, there has never been an outbreak, however, the Provincial Department continues to be vigilant by doing regular routine inspections and targeted surveillance in high risk areas i.e.

auctions as well as international border belt of Eswatini and provincial border farms next to KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng Provinces.

The province highlighted the need for the country to produce its own FMD vaccine for efficacy and cost saving.
The FMD vaccine that South Africa used to produce and stopped a few years ago, was more efficient than the current vaccine that is imported from Botswana.

It was highlighted that there were challenges with FMD vaccine availability in the past year (2022) but it is currently available.

There are challenges with availability of other vaccines such as Rift Valley Fever (RVF).
3.3 PES beneficiaries visited by the delegation 3.3.1 Ntombifuthi Khoza (youth) in Barberton, City of Mbombela She started in the Provincial Department (DARDLEA)’s Fortune 40 Programme, which is a two-year programme that targets unemployed youth.

The Fortune 40 Programme offers capacity building programmes and training in agriculture that is accredited by AgriSETA.

She farms with chillies and vegetables such as spinach and butternut on 0.25 hectares of land with another young lady.
She received two PES vouchers (2021 and 2022) with a total value of R8 100.

They bought fertilisers and seeds with the PES vouchers.

The main challenge, which was also mentioned by the Department official, is water availability.

She reported that with the little profit they made, they bought a 2 500 litre Jojo tank, which is quite small for irrigating the area.
Their future plan is to build a water reservoir but they need urgent assistance with a borehole and a tractor as the entire community share one tractor, which becomes a struggle during planting periods.

The delegation was not happy with what they saw as there was nothing in the field except a small patch that looked as if it was recently ploughed for its benefit.

The advice and assistance that is given to subsistence farmers by the Department was questioned.
3.3.2 Thandekile Mavuso (youth) in Barberton, City of Mbombela 10 13 She graduated from the Fortune 40 Programme in 2019 and currently farms with broilers and layers and also plants vegetables for household consumption.

She received two PES vouchers with a total value of R3 500.

The first voucher she received was R1 000 in 2020/21 with which she bought 100 broiler chicks.

At the time she was keeping the chickens in a shack that was built by her husband.
She sells locally and as customers also wanted eggs, she ventured into layers, starting with 50 layers, then 100 and grew from there.

With profit from broilers and egg sales, she managed to build the chicken house that the delegation also saw when they visited.

The main challenge is water, which she currently gets from a borehole on the other side of the village, at a cost.

Sometimes her pipes that carry water from the borehole are vandalised and she is unable to get water.
The delegation was impressed with the progress that they saw at Thandekile’s property; and questioned the small PES amounts she was given when she is doing so well and should have been supported.

3.3.3 Beauty Mokoena in Hazyview, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Beauty Mokoena is part of a family cooperative that started farming with vegetables in 2010.

She is the manager and her husband a Chairperson of the cooperative.

They are leasing 5 ha and employ some people to assist.
She received 3 PES vouchers (2 in 2021 and 1 in 2022) with a total value of R19 900.

She used the vouchers to buy production inputs – farming implements, fertilisers and other chemicals.

The main challenge with the vouchers has been the supplier prices.

When she went to buy production inputs, the prices were double.
When asked by the delegation on how the Department monitors the use and redemption of vouchers, Mr Mokoena indicated that there was no monitoring or accountability on how they used the vouchers.

The family mentioned that the cooperative has potential to be commercial but need land for expansion.

They mentioned that they plan to relocate from the leased land to 17 ha that is owned by Mr Mokoena’s late father but it needs a borehole.
The Extension Officer is assisting them with technical advice and a Production Plan for the 17 ha.

3.3.4 Lalamang Siwele in Hazyview, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Ms Siwele is involved in mixed farming.

She plants groundnuts and maize on 5 ha and also keeps pigs near her homestead.

She also has some cattle.

She received 2 PES 11 14 vouchers in 2021 with a total value of R13 400.

She purchased farming implements, pig feed and seeds with the vouchers.
As she is an old lady, she is assisted by her daughter- in-law and granddaughters.

During planting and harvesting, she also hires 2 people to assist and sells her produce locally.

She takes maize to the local miller to be milled into maize meal, which sells for R350 per 50kg bag.

The main challenge is lack of proper storage for the groundnuts and grain, which she keeps in the house, thus attracting mice.

She also needs a proper structure for the pigs.


The delegation was very impressed by Ms Siwele and her family’s farming activities particularly as they were all female and included the young granddaughters.

3.4 Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) visited by the delegation 3.3.1 Thulamahashe FPSU in Thulamahashe, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality The Department reported that the FPSU structure was initiated in 2020 but due to Covid-19, construction started in 2021/22.
The total project value is R9 400 000 and approximately R8 million has been spent.

The Department reported that it bought a bakkie, 3 tractors and production inputs including water tanks for the farmer cooperatives.

The FPSU is going to be a Fresh Produce Packhouse for farmer cooperatives who have a Permission to Occupy (PTO) 1 374 ha of arable land under a Traditional Authority.

The structure will also have a Cold Storage that can hold 42 crates overnight.
It was further reported that the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) is assisting farmers with skills development.

It was further reported that the Provincial Department is going to get a Strategic Partner to mentor the farmers for 2 years.

The Department reported that it started with 5 primary cooperatives and by the time of the visit it reported 76 primary cooperatives (approximately 628 farmers) have registered to use the FPSU.
However, a number of farmers that were present during the visit reported to the delegation that the Department never consulted all the farmers at Bushbuckridge or even the Provincial Department of Agriculture, which has the record of all farmers, when they decided to build and fund the FPSU.

Therefore, the number of registered cooperatives is not a true reflection as there are more cooperatives at Bushbuckridge that are not considered part of the project.
The delegation advised the aggrieved farmers to document their issues and send a 12 15 formal correspondence to the Committee regarding the matter.

The delegation was also not happy with the fact that at the time of the visit, the structure that was started in 2021 was still not finished although 85% of the total cost has been used.
3.3.2 Huntington FPSU in Mkhuhlu, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality The delegation did not engage with the Department on Huntington FPSU as it was not happy with the information that was presented that lacked detail and figures particularly as a Member of the delegation noted that the FPSU was built in 2017/18 and little has changed since a Parliamentary Committee of the 5th Parliament visited.

The delegation however, met with the farmers that were present.
The farmers bemoaned lack of consultation by the Department including sowing divisions among the farmers.

It was reported that there are conflicts about the FPSU as some farmers claim it as theirs while others are excluded.

The farmers mentioned that lack of consultation is also accompanied by wastage of tax payers’ money on things that farmers have not requested or do not need.
It was reported that farmers, knowing their area, requested a 75KW tractor but the Department delivered a 125KW tractor, which they are unable to use as it is too big.

The Chairperson of the Executive of the Farmers’ Cooperative operating in the FPSU reported that the Department told them that there is no budget for their support in the current year, however, they were surprised when the Department delivered bags of fertilisers, saying they were for them.
In addition, the Department also delivered two new browsers (diesel tanks) two weeks before the Committee visit.

The browsers, which were placed somewhere inside the Packhouse, were shown to the delegation.

The farmers reported that those browsers are also too big for their vehicles.

It was also reported that the Department advertised for the Packhouse Manager and cleaners without consulting the farmers.

When they enquired and wanted an update on the appointment process, they did not get a response.
13 16 3.4 Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) Protection Zone 3.4.1 Salubindza Dip Tank – FMD Protection Zone at Salubindza The delegation visited the Salubindza Dip Tank, which is within the FMD Protection Zone with Vaccination to witness some of the control and surveillance measures that are undertaken by the Provincial Veterinary Services to control the spread of FMD.
At the Salubindza Dip Tank, the Provincial Department’s Veterinary Services gave a background to FMD and its impact in the area as well as an overview of the Vaccination Programme.

Shortage of Vets was highlighted as a challenge that impacts the efficiency of detecting diseases such as FMD faster as the available Veterinary professionals have to be thinly spread among the available dip tanks and inspections facilities.
The Ward where the delegation visited has 5 dip tanks including Salubindza; and communities are within a 5km radius from dip tanks.

Salubindza Dip Tank is 100% subsidised by the State as part of the FMD control measures.

The cattle in the area are inspected and dipped at Salubindza Dip Tank every week; and are vaccinated every 4 months.

The delegation witnessed the Vets and Veterinary Technicians at work in the presence of the cattle farmers.
The Provincial Department highlighted the need to have abattoirs and feedlots closer to the people especially in the Protection Zone as farmers cannot sell outside their area.

The farmers did not seem to understand the need for the weekly inspections and quarterly vaccinations as their livestock do not seem sick and the area has not experienced an FMD outbreak for the past 3 years.
They complained about the inability to move their cattle outside of the area, thus being forced to only sell locally because of FMD.

They also raised a challenge with water shortage and highlighted a need for fencing for grazing camps, cattle branding and ear tags.

3.4.2 FMD Red Line Fence at Numbi Gate (Kruger National Park) The delegation visited the FMD Red Line fence at Numbi Gate, Kruger National Park (KNP).
The fence was put up to keep buffaloes, which are carriers of the FMD virus and other contagious diseases such as TB and the tick-borne Corridor disease, inside KNP; and to prevent them from coming into contact with local cattle.

Similarly, to also keep cattle from local communities that are adjacent to KNP, outside the Park, where they may come into contact 14 17 with infected buffaloes or their ticks (Corridor disease).

The fence was previously electrified by Transnet.


However, due to cable theft, Transnet is now using diesel trains and the Department (DALRRD) could not get electricity for the fence.

The Department has since put up a cable fence (non-electrified), which is expected to cover 600 km from Limpopo to Mpumalanga.

The Fence was put up by the Animal Health and Engineering Division of DALRRD, which also has an office in Skukuza.

The Animal Health Directorate is responsible for maintenance of the Fence.
It was highlighted that river crossings are the weak points in the Disease Control Strategy as buffaloes are able to cross the rivers.

Due to budgetary constraints, approximately 100 km of the Red Line Fence has been put up and the remaining 500 km may take another 5 to 7 years.

3.5.

Flood disaster areas visited The Nkomazi Local Municipality experienced heavy rains during February 2023.
The agricultural sector has been severely affected by the floods which caused waterlogging of crops, water pumps submerged or washed away, fencing washed away, livestock mortalities, collapse of infield dams and bridges.

This has affected farmers immensely as they had to halt agricultural activities and comply with early warnings and advice from the Department.

Other damages in Nkomazi were reported but the focus in this report will be on the projects visited by the delegation.
3.5.1 Schulzendal Livestock Association in Schulzendal, Nkomazi Local Municipality The Association is made up of about 155 subsistence farmers owning 1 250 cattle in total.

The cattle graze extensively on 2 200 ha of communal land that is under the Matsamo Traditional Authority.

The farmers have the Right to Occupy (RTO) the grazing land from the Traditional Council.

The grazing area is divided into four camps.

The main source of water for the cattle is the earth dam that was constructed in 1998.
The floods damaged the access roads to the area including 1.5 km of the infield roads within the grazing camps and also led to the collapse of the earth dam wall.

It was reported that the earth dam, which was full of silt and had little water during the visit, will require R36 million to repair.

The Provincial Department reported that it will be working with Public Works to fix the damaged roads.
15 18 The farmers reported that they sell their cattle to a nearby abattoir that is run by a strategic partner who often does not give them good prices.

Therefore, in addition to damaged access roads and water for livestock, their main challenge is market access.

3.5.2 Sambo Brothers at KwaMadladla, Nkomazi Local Municipality The company constitutes 5 famers (3 adults and two youth), which includes Mr Sambo and his son who were present during the delegation’s visit.
They plant sugarcane under irrigation for commercial purposes on 51 ha of communal land (smallscale commercial).

The communal land is under Matsamo Traditional Authority.

The sugarcane production average is 100 tons per ha and the sugarcane quality is 13%.

Sugarcane is harvested annually with 11-month management practice and delivered to Malelane Sugar Mill.
The company employs 5 permanent workers that are registered with Department of Employment and Labour, 40 seasonal workers for harvesting and 30 temporary workers during gap filling, which is normally done after harvesting.

They received assistance from the Provincial Department with a yellow fleet in 2021 and in 2023, they received 255 bags of fertilisers.
The Provincial Department is providing technical and advisory services; and the Extension Officer responsible for the project was present and briefed the delegation.

The delegation was impressed with the involvement of the Extension Officer in the project.

The floods caused severe damage on the irrigation system (pumps and pump house that got submerged in water), electricity transformer, electric fence and access roads.
Mr Sambo told the delegation that they are struggling to irrigate as the pumps are not working and sugarcane is dying.

Currently, they are renting a small pump as sugarcane needs to be irrigated on a daily basis.

He mentioned that because fences are also damaged, cattle are becoming a challenge.

Furthermore, they are also worried about the damaged access road as they are harvesting in 2 months’ time.
The Department reported that its engineers have been in the area to assess the flood damage and costing has been done.

It reported that within two weeks from the time of the Committee visit, contractors will be initiating replacement work in the damaged farms including the Sambo Brothers’ farm.

The Department reported that it already planned to replace the Sambos’ sprinkler system with a more efficient drip irrigation system; and that contract is for 14 months.
16 19 The provincial Department will be working with the Department of Public Works to fix the damaged access roads through the new programme called Rural Access Roads.

4.
COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS The Portfolio Committee, having interacted with the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Provincial Shared Services Centre project management teams, visited project sites and interacted with the farmers and beneficiaries, made several observations as follows: 4.1 Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) • The delegation was happy with the work that is being done by most PES beneficiaries that were visited despite the challenges.
• The criteria that DALRRD outlined for PES beneficiaries was not consistently applied judging by the variance in voucher amounts that were received by beneficiaries.

The subsistence farmers with the greatest need (e.g.

Ntombifuthi Khoza) received minimal assistance and there were no commitments for additional funding.
• As much as PES was for subsistence farmers, it’s main aim is to stimulate employment creation, therefore, some beneficiaries that were operating at semi-commercial level albeit at a smallscale and also show growth potential could have been assisted to grow and directed to other comprehensive support programmes of the Department including linkage with the Department of Small Business Development.

For example, Beauty Mokoena, Thandekile Mavuso and Lalamang Siwele.
• There was dissatisfaction with the absence of Extension Officers that work directly with the PES farmers visited on site during the delegation’s visit; an issue that was not rectified even when the delegation highlighted its concern in the first project visit.

• In light of the potential that was recognised despite water challenges in some cases, there was a concern with the Department’s failure to assist farmers with implementing water harvesting technologies.
17 20 • The need for the Department to assist Beauty Mokoena’s cooperative in its endeavour to grow the business and relocate to the larger 17 ha family land so that it can save on leasing costs and create more employment opportunities.

• Despite the Department’s undertaking that information is available, there was little evidence of efficient monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the PES implementation through voucher redemption, utilisation, goods supplied, prices, etc.
; and most importantly, the suppliers/agro-dealers at which vouchers are redeemed.

• It was noted that there was little evidence that DALRRD has learned lessons from the implementation of the Covid-19 Disaster Fund in respect of M&E as it still relies on a consultant (Mezzanine) for data on agro-dealers (suppliers).

• There is a need for the Department to assist farmers and the youth such as Ms Siwele’s granddaughter with information on agricultural education activities and support e.g.
bursaries that DALRRD offer for studies in Agricultural Sciences.

4.2 Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) • Lack of intergovernmental relations (IGR) and stakeholder consultation and engagement by the DALRRD when planning to implement infrastructural projects in Provinces to avoid and prevent conflicts.
The fact that some farmers and the Provincial Department of Agriculture that works with farmers on a daily basis, were not consulted when the DALRRD decided to build FPSUs as alluded to by farmers, was noted as a serious concern.

• Lack of social facilitation and conflict resolution measures by DALRRD to address the conflicts it has created in the FPSUs by not consulting extensively threatens their sustainability.
• The comprehensive and specific information that was requested by the Committee including the financial breakdown of costs since the establishment of the FPSUs, the ownership/beneficiaries and management, infrastructure and equipment, the status of each FPSU, etc.

was not provided to the delegation.

• There was a concern with the R8 million that has been reportedly spent at the still incomplete Thulamahashe FPSU compared to what the delegation saw.
• The rationale for the continued use of strategic partners, a measure that historically has not benefited land reform beneficiaries was not explained.

For most Proactive Land 18 21 Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) farms, the financial benefits of the strategic partnerships accrued to the strategic partners instead of the beneficiaries that they are supposed to assist.
• The delegation linked the continued use of strategic partners to lack of IGR as DALRRD can collaborate with the Provincial Department, its entities (e.g.

National Agricultural Marketing Council, Agricultural Research Council) and the Department of Small Business Development to support and capacitate the farmers on the use and management of the FPSUs.
4.3 Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) Control and Surveillance • The delegation acknowledged the efforts of the Province to address shortage of Veterinarians including the available veterinary infrastructure to address challenges that are faced by the Province in respect of FMD and other infectious animal diseases.

• The Provincial Department need to effectively communicate disease outbreaks and educate farmers in the Protection Zone about the necessary measures to control FMD.
This is quite important as farmers do not fully understand why they should not take their healthy-looking animals out of the area.

• There is still poor coordination of activities within DALRRD and between DALRRD and its entities.
In this case, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) implements the National Red Meat Development Programme yet there was no indication of its involvement in addressing the challenges that are faced by farmers in the FMD Protection Zone, especially since the Province highlighted the need for abattoirs and feedlots closer to the communities in the Protection Zone.

Additionally, the Schulzendal Livestock Farmers who also highlighted lack of market access as their main challenge.
• There was a serious concern with the slow pace at which the Red Line Fence was being put up including its maintenance due to budgetary constraints in light of the high risk of buffaloes from KNP coming into contact with cattle from adjacent communities.

• The delegation acknowledged the need for a significant budget allocation for the Department’s Biosecurity Programme to address amongst other issues, the infrastructural needs such as the Red Line Fences and shortage of Veterinarians.
19 22 4.4 Flood disaster affected areas • The delegation was not happy with the pace at which the Provincial Department was attending to farmers’ needs and damages.

It refuted the report from the Provincial Department that the earth dam wall in one of the camps for the Schulzendal Livestock Farmers burst and collapsed due to the floods in February as a Google Earth photo showed that the dam was in a similar condition six months ago.
• The delegation acknowledged the undertaking by the Provincial Department to work with Public Works to repair the damaged access and infield roads for both the Livestock Farmers Association and the Sambo Brothers.

However, there was a concern with the lack of a timeframe particularly as Mr Sambo was concerned with the roads as they would be harvesting sugarcane in 2 months’ time.
• The delegation was impressed with the efforts of the Sambos despite the significant damage and challenges they faced as a result of the floods and implored the Department to fast track the repairs to the fence and replacement of the irrigation system.

5.
RECOMMENDATIONS Having interacted with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs and the Provincial Shared Services Centre; further having visited projects and interacted with beneficiaries; and in view of the observations discussed above, the Committee makes the following recommendations to the National Assembly for the attention of the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: 6.1 The Department should refine its criteria for PES beneficiaries for submission to Parliament and clearly define the difference between a subsistence and a smallholder farmer without linking it to profit; and also take into account differences among commodities (e.g.
crops versus poultry).

As much as the Department reported that PES support does not go beyond 1 ha, some of the beneficiaries visited operated on 5 ha and more.

20 23 6.2 Submit to Parliament the PES Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan and a detailed M&E Report on PES.

6.3 Submit a detailed report on all PES beneficiaries nationally including annual breakdown of funds that have been allocated to each beneficiary, what the funds were used for and the outcome of such funding.
6.4 Develop a well-coordinated farmer training and skills development programme to ensure that capacity building initiatives are implemented for subsistence and smallholder farmers; and ensure that the training provided is relevant to their needs.

6.5 Develop a programme to strengthen intergovernmental relations (IGR) to prevent duplication of activities and minimise resource wastage.
For example, ensure proper consultation and collaboration with Provincial Departments when implementing programmes in Provinces (e.g.

PES and FPSUs in particular); and linking of PES beneficiaries that show potential to operate at commercial scale with the Department of Small Business Development and other relevant Departments and entities.
6.6 Submit to Parliament comprehensive reports with specific information on the Thulamahashe and Huntington FPSUs including the other 3 FPSUs that were not visited in Mpumalanga.

The reports should include but not limited to, dates of commencement, the financial breakdown of costs since the establishment of the FPSUs to date, details of ownership/beneficiaries of the FPSU, its management, all infrastructure and equipment bought, operational activities and status of each FPSU.
6.7 Submit to Parliament an Action Plan with timelines on social facilitation and conflict resolution measures to address conflicts that were reported by farmers at both Thulamahashe and Huntington FPSUs as the conflicts threaten their effectiveness and sustainability.

6.8 Provide an updated report on the implementation of the National Red Meat Development Programme by the ARC that is meant to assist communal livestock farmers with feedlots and market access.
21 24 6.9 Submit an Action Plan on how the National Red Meat Development Programme will be used to assist and benefit communal livestock farmers in the Mpumalanga FMD Protection Zone who are unable to move their cattle outside the area due to FMD; as well as the Schulzendal Livestock Farmers who have a challenge with market access.
6.10 Submit a comprehensive report that outlines the role of all strategic partners, mentors and implementing agents that have been used by the Department to implement and manage projects in Mpumalanga Province and nationally (e.g.

Mezzanine).
Mezzanine).

In each case, the report should include the terms of contract between the Department and each strategic partner, mentor or implementing agent, their specific responsibilities in each project, remuneration for services rendered, all funds that have been disbursed to them for each project including the breakdown on the utilisation of such funds, as well as the outcome of their interventions in each case.
6.11 Submit to Parliament a detailed report with breakdown of the costs and work that has been done on the 100 km Red Line Fence that was visited by the delegation at Numbi Gate; including a plan to address the challenges associated with river crossings and broken fence to control the spread of FMD.
6.12 Submit to Parliament a detailed Plan on the Biosecurity needs of the country in respect of personnel, infrastructure, funding and other resources including details of what is currently available, shortfalls and how the Department plans to address the challenges associated with the shortfalls.

6.13 Provide a quarterly progress report on the repair work and replacement of irrigation systems for all the farmers that have been affected by the February floods in Nkomazi Local Municipality.
6.14 Submit an Action Plan detailing how the Departments will resolve the challenges that were identified (e.g.

water and market access, land for expansion, storage facilities, conflicts, etc.)

in all the projects visited by the Portfolio Committee in Mpumalanga 22 25 Province.

In addition, the Action Plan should comprehensively detail how the projects will be assisted; and must include time frames and an Exit Strategy for each project.
The Committee further recommends that the Minister should ensure that Mpumalanga DARDLEA – 6.15 Submits to Parliament on a quarterly basis progress on repairing the livestock dam at Schulzendal and the collaborative activities with the Department of Public Works to fix access and infield roads that were damaged by floods at Nkomazi Local Municipality.
Unless otherwise indicated, submit to Parliament, within three months after the adoption of this report by the National Assembly, a response to the recommendations with required action plans and reports as outlined.

Report to be considered.

23 26 2.


REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE ON ITS OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE SAPS TRAINING FACILITY AT 3 SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY (3 SAI) BATTALION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE (SANDF) (KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE), THE KIMBERLEY CENTRAL POLICE STATION (NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE), THE CENTRAL FIREARM REGISTER (CFR) (GAUTENG PROVINCE) AND THE SAPS TSHWANE TRAINING ACADEMY (GAUTENG PROVINCE) ON 21 AND 22 MAY 2023, DATED 31 MAY 2023.

1.
1.

INTRODUCTION The Portfolio Committee on Police undertook an oversight visit from 21 to 22 May 2023 to the Northern Cape and Gauteng Provinces.

On 21 May 2023, the Committee was briefed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the 3 South African Infantry (3 SAI) Battalion in Kimberley.

On the same day, the SAPS briefed the Committee at the Kimberley Central Police Station.
On 22 May 2023, the Committee visited the Central Firearm Register (CFR) and the SAPS at the Tshwane Training Academy.

2.

DELEGATION The delegation comprised of the following Members and support staff: 2.1.

Members of the Committee The following Members attended the oversight visit: • Hon.

Joemat-Pettersson (Chairperson) (ANC) • Hon.

Marekwa (ANC) • Hon.

Seabi (ANC) • Hon.

Peacock (ANC) • Hon.

Patrein (ANC) • Hon.

Khoza (EFF) • Hon.

Terblanche (DA) • Hon.


Shaik-Emam (NFP) Apologies Apologies were received from the following Members: • Hon.

Molekwa (ANC) • Hon.

Dr Groenewald (FF+) • Hon.

Shembeni (EFF) • Hon.

Whitfield (DA) • Hon.

Meshoe (ACDP) • Hon.

Majozi (IFP) 1 27 2.2.

Support staff The following support staff attended the oversight: • Ms Mbengo: Committee Secretary • Ms van Zyl-Gous: Content Advisor • Ms Sihawu: Executive Secretary to the Chairperson 3.
TRAINING FACILITY AT 3 SAI BATTALION (KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE) The Portfolio Committee on Police was hosted at the 3 South African Infantry (3 SAI) Battalion of the SANDF to receive a presentation and for Committee engagements before a site inspection.

3.1.
3.1.

Presentation from SANDF The presentation was led by Colonel T Sekgobela, Officer Commanding 3 SAI Bn, who highlighted the following: Introduction; • • Facilities provided to the SAPS in 2022 and 2023; • Relationship with the SAPS • Challenges; and • Closing remarks.

3.2.

Presentation from SAPS The SAPS Acting Deputy National Commissioner: Support Services (Lt Gen Ntshiea) welcomed the delegation and provided an outline of the oversight visit.
The Divisional Commissioner: Development (Lt Gen Zulu) led the presentation, which included the following: Resource Human Introduction; Irregular appointment/ recruitment based on the forensic review; • • Number of trainees placed at 3 SAI; • Number of SAPS trainers deployed at 3 SAI; • • SANDF Resources utilised by SAPS; • Meals/ Menu; • • Payments for utilisation of SANDF Facilities; • • Summary of the Basic Police Development Learning Programmes (BPDLP) Interventions in place to deal with any challenges; and Implementation Protocol between SAPS and SANDF; Curriculum Note: The presentations can be obtained from the Committee Secretary on request.
2 28 3.3.

Site visit The Committee visited the food storage, kitchen and mess (dining) facilities at 3 SAI and interacted with the chefs and kitchen staff.

The kitchen prepares meals for approximately 2 000 people, three times daily, and serves fresh fruit with each meal.

All rations are bought from local vendors and Halaal meals are contracted out.

The Committee further inspected the bungalows and ablution facilities offered to trainees.
The Committee noted that the bungalows are generally very neat, but did not have curtains that could close.

The Department indicated that a dorm-style bungalow accommodation set-up is standard in SAPS Training Academies and can accommodate more trainees than, for instance, the recently refurbished units at the Hammanskraal Academy that offers single accommodation to trainees.
The Committee met with the 1 589 trainees at the 3 SAI parade ground where the Chairperson addressed the trainees and offered words of encouragement and support.

Members of the Committee were introduced to trainees and they sang to the Committee which was much appreciated.

3.4.
3.4.

Committee deliberations The Committee highlighted the following concerns during deliberations: 1) The Committee requested an explanation for the SAPS having to pay the SANDF R117 million for the use of 3 SAI Bn facilities as both are government Departments.

2) The Committee raised concern about the gender-parity of recruits at 3 SAI Bn as the majority are male and requested the Department to provide a gender breakdown across all trainees countrywide.
3) The Committee questioned the proportion of recruits that start training against those who complete training.

The Committee further questioned whether funds are recouped when trainees drop out.

The Committee also asked what are the predominant reasons for trainees failing to complete the training programme.

4) The Committee wanted a clearer understanding of the challenges experienced at the training facilities.
5) The Committee questioned whether there have been any casualties related to training at the base.

6) The Committee requested the Department to indicate whether trainees’ state of mind is evaluated at the start of training to measure whether they are in good mental health to become a police member.

7) The Committee asked whether the recruits are trained on ethics and corruption.
8) The Committee noted that the recruits are tested for competency in English at the start of training and questioned whether major challenges are identified.

This is in light of the recently released Progress in International Reading Literacy study that revealed that 78% of South African pupils at their fourth year of primary school could not read for meaning.

9) The Committee asked whether ablution facilities are sufficient to accommodate the additional trainees at the 3 SAI Bn base.
10) The Committee questioned whether religious meals, such as Halaal meals are catered for.

11) The Committee raised concern on the seeming lack of patriotic symbols displayed in training material and at the base.

3 29 12) The Committee requested clarity on the different amounts paid to the SANDF for the use of facilities at 3 SAI Bn in 2022 and 2023.

13) The Committee requested the Department to indicate what payments, salaries or stipends are made to trainees.

3.5.
3.5.

Responses from the Department The Department responded on the following matters: 1) The Department indicated that payments between government departments are a requirement of National Treasury under the PFMA and other Treasury Regulations.

2) The Department stated that the gender-parity of the trainees at 3 SAI Bn is slanted towards male trainees as the accommodation facilities are better suited of males, but indicated that other training facilities are better balanced in terms of its gender intake.
3) The Department indicated that the payments made to the SANDF were higher in 2022 due to a larger contingent of trainees taken in at 3 SAI Bn compared to the current year (3000 vs 1500).

This also meant that there were more trainers deployed to Kimberley who were housed in accommodation outside the 3 SAI bn base.
4) The Department indicated that while English competency of trainees are at an acceptable level, the main challenge is with sentence construction, resulting in poor written construction of witness statements.

5) The Department indicated that trainees are paid R4 500.00 per month and covered under the police medical scheme POLMED.

6) The Department indicated that ablution facilities across 3 SAI Bn are sufficient to accommodate the increased number of people at the base.
7) The Department indicated that provisions are made in the contract with trainees to recoup funds in the case that they do not complete the training, however this if often not followed-up and required more attention.

3.6.

Recommendations by the Committee The Committee recommends the following: 1) The Committee recommends that a fully-fledged SAPS Training Academy should be established in the Northern Cape.
2) The Committee recommends that more efforts should be made to ensure gender parity in recruits and trainees in future years.

3) The Committee recommends that more attention should be paid to recoup funds from trainees that do not complete their training.

4.7 Closing remarks The Chairperson stated that while the situation at 3 SAI is not ideal, recruits should remain mindful of the opportunity that is provided to them in terms of employment.
It would have been better to accommodate all trainees at SAPS Training Academies, but that the facilities provided by the SANDF are welcomed and well kept.

The Chairperson stated that the arrangement with 3 SAI bn should continue until a fully-fledged SAPS Training Academy is established in the Northern Cape.

4 30 The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison (Northern Cape Province), Hon Bloem, indicated that she is appearing on behalf of the Northern Cape Premier and the entire Northern Cape Cabinet.
She expressed her gratitude for the good relationship that has been built between the SAPS and the SANDF.

The MEC further stated that the intake at 3 SAI Bn boosts the local economy and thanked the Portfolio Committee on Police for visiting the Northern Cape Province.

In closing, the Chairperson expressed her appreciation to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans for accommodating the SAPS trainees at a SANDF facility.
The Chairperson further thanked the Honourable President for the intake of additional police recruits.

4.

KIMBERLEY CENTRAL POLICE STATION (KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE) The Portfolio Committee on Police was hosted by the Provincial Commissioner: Northern Cape and Management of the Kimberley Central Police Stations to receive a presentation and committee engagements, followed by a site inspection.
As an opening remark, the Chairperson gave an opportunity to the Members, guests and stakeholders as well as representatives from the Community Police Forum (CPF), Provincial Government and Provincial Legislature to introduce themselves.

4.1.
4.1.

Presentations from SAPS The Station Commander presented the following information on the Kimberley Central Police Station: • Background; • Demographics; • Resources: Personnel and vehicles; • Infrastructure; • Crime Statistics; • Crime Investigation; • Court successes; and • Policing challenges.

The CPF addressed the Committee and indicated that they have a good working relationship with the Station Commander and indicated that programmes are in place to address crime in the area.
These programmes include the painting of houses and cleaning of yards.

The CPF representative further stated that all community complaints are received and addressed by the Station Management.

The CPF representative highlighted the impact of load-shedding on crime in that streets are not lit during these periods, which increases crime.

The CPF expressed their appreciation towards the Station Commander.

Note: The presentations can be obtained from the Committee Secretary on request.

5 31 4.2.
5 31 4.2.

Site visit The Committee conduced a walk-about on the station precinct, including the Community Service Centre (CSC), Detention Cells and the Victim Friendly Room (VFR).

4.3.

Committee deliberations The Committee noted the following during deliberations: 1) The Committee raised concern regarding the significant number of taverns in the policing precinct (123 taverns).

The Committee highlighted that all spheres of Government must work levels.
Local Governments must consider the impact of alcohol on crime when considering tavern applications and not only aspects of economic development.

The Committee indicated that the silo-approach must be addressed through the implantation of the District Development Model (DDM) as announced by the President of the Republic.
to address escalating crime together 2) The Committee raised concern about increases in the majority of crime categories in the police precinct, and indicated that serious intervention is needed to stem the escalation in crime across Kimberley.

3) The Committee expressed concern about the high number of Second Hand Goods stores (169) across the precinct and indicated that these stores often offers a market- place for stolen goods.
The Committee questioned the regularity on which Second Hand Goods shops are inspected by the SAPS.

4) The Committee expressed concern about the average caseload of Detectives and indicated that high caseloads can lead to ineffective investigations.

5) The Committee noted that more than half of the Visible Policing vehicles are not operational and noted that this has a significant impact on crime prevention.
6) The Committee raised concern about the lack of informants used by the station/Detectives and questioned the reasons for the lack of trust between communities (informants) and the SAPS.

7) The Committee noted its surprise that the CPF is not experiencing any challenges, as this is generally not the case at other stations visited.
8) The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison (Northern Cape Province), Hon Bloem, indicated that alcohol and drug abuse is the most significant problem in the area and contributor to crime.

5.4 Responses by the Department The following responses were received from the Department: 1) The Department indicated that a recently held Community Policing Indaba yielded positive results and that funds will be allocated to support community policing projects.
2) The Provincial Commissioner indicated that illegal mining impacts on crime in the area and that so-called ‘zama-zama’s’ are predominantly undocumented foreign nationals.

3) In terms of vehicle availability, the Departments stated that an emerging challenge is that suppliers often dispatch incorrect vehicle parts to meet a specific deadline and 6 32 this creates an administrative backlog for sending the incorrect parts back and sourcing correct vehicle parts.
4) The Department stated that many Government Departments are absent from collaborating in crime prevention initiatives and specifically highlighted the absence of the Department of Social Development in this regard.

5) The Department agreed that the number of taverns in the area are unacceptably high and indicated that despite the Department being consulted on the issuing of permits, their opinion is disregarded.
6) The Department stated that significant resources are taken up by responding to public protests in the Northern Cape province.

5.5 Recommendations by the Committee The Committee recommends the following: 1) The Committee recommends that the Minister of Police must engage with his counterpart in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to address the proliferation of taverns, and the impact thereof on crime.
2) The Committee recommends that the Sol Plaatje Municipality should enforce its bylaws and ensure that taverns comply with operating hours.

The Municipality should further consider the impact of alcohol on crime when considering the approval of tavern licences.

5.6 Closing remarks In closing, the Chairperson noted that the Northern Cape Province has the capacity to reduce its crime rate.

She indicated that the proliferation of illegal mining in the province has a significant impact on crime.
The Chairperson also stated that the Mayor has a responsibility to close taverns operating outside approved trading hours.

The Chairperson called for a national team to assist the province with the mushrooming of undocumented foreign nationals and stated that communities must feel, but not fear the police.

The Chairperson thanked all stakeholders and support staff.

5.

CENTRAL FIREARMS REGISTRY (CFR), PRETORIA, GAUTENG PROVINCE 5.1.
Opening and site visit The Chairperson welcomed everyone present at the CFR, Veritas Building, and explained that the Committee will only conduct a site visit and will receive the presentation at the SAPS Training Academy, as the CFR does not have adequate boardroom facilities.

The Committee was led by the Acting Deputy National Commissioner: Support Services and Deputy National Commissioner: Policing.
During the inspection, Members noted that progress had been made in the archiving and storage of applications when compared to a previous visit by the Committee.

The Department indicated that the remaining files are awaiting auditing before being archived (and stored) offsite.

7 33 5.2.
Presentation The Department made a detailed presentation and covered the following areas: • Background; • Feedback on recommendations from the previous visit; • Performance status (2019 –2023); • Applications exceeding 120 working days (2019 –2023); • Current status of new firearm licence applications; • Amnesty Firearms and Destructions; • Enquiries and Complaints; • Other critical issues: Support related; • Other related issues o Litigations and Open Motions o Record keeping of firearms o Tracking and Tracing of Ammunition • CFR Accommodation; and • System related matters o Enhanced Firearms Register System; o Transition to new Firearm Control System; o Digitisation of files at the CFR.
Note: The presentations can be obtained from the Committee Secretary on request.

5.3.

Deliberations The Committee raised the following concerns during deliberations: 1) The Committee requested the Department to summarise the challenges experienced with SITA on the digitation of the CFR, and highlighted the high risk of documents/applications being lost while stored at the CFR.

2) The Committee asked why no ammunition was destroyed in the 2021/22 financial year.
3) The Committee raised concern about the high number of firearm applications received from the private security industry.

4) The Committee noted that challenges experienced with applications are with provinces and not at national level and asked the manner in which these challenges are addressed.

5) The Committee raised concern with the continued occupation of the Veritas building and indicated that this should be viewed against a previous finding that the building is not fit for human occupation.
6) The Committee questioned the delays in the relocation to the Telkom Towers building and asked why the relocation was attempted while the Department knew that the building was not ready.

The Committee further asked what funds were spent on this relocation and indicated that this constitutes fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

7) The Committee requested the rental cost of the Telkom Towers building and asked whether it is a state-owned building.
8) A Committee member of the Gauteng Legislature indicated that a major challenge remains the loss and theft of state-owned firearms and indicated that the Premier of 8 34 Gauteng had previously indicated that all such firearms must be chipped to make identification easier.

The Member further raised concern that firearms in police evidence stores are “rented out” to criminals for committing various crimes.
9) The Committee raised concern about the continued fire hazard posed by the storage of documents at the Veritas building and questioned what would happen if a fire is to break out.

10) The Committee questioned the reason why additional services provided by the DPWI and SITA cannot be shifted to the SAPS as this will alleviate various dependencies.

11) The MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng highlighted the proliferation of illegal firearms, especially high calibre firearms, as a major concern.
She further highlighted the cross-border smuggling of vehicles, which can be addressed with effective strop- and-search operations at border posts.

She further indicated that border patrols by the SANDF should be increased to address the crossing of undocumented foreigners along the borderline.

The MEC indicated that partnerships with private security companies should be increased as a vital force multiplier of the SAPS.
In this regard, the MEC also highlighted the importance of CPFs and Reservists as force multipliers.

5.4.

Responses The following responses were received from the Department: 1) The representative from SITA indicated that a new Head was appointed at SITA and that processes related to Supply Chain Management will be changed from a manual system to an electronic system and this will mitigate delays in the system.
The representative further is comprehensive and expensive and, as such, all processes must be followed meticulously.

The contract was awarded to the company Providence Software Solutions.

the digitation-contract for the CFR indicated that 2) The Department indicated that the rental for the Telkom Towers building is R14 million per month.

The COEGA corporation was appointed as implementation agent to renovate the Telkom Towers Annex Building.

The renovation will start in September 2023.


3) The Department indicated that the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is allowed to transfer serviced from SITA to SAPS.

4) The timeframe for the destruction of ammunition is not legislated unlike the destruction of firearms.

5) The private security industry is not limited in terms of firearm applications.

5.5.
5.5.

Recommendations The Committee recommends the following: 1) The Committee recommends that the digitation of firearm application must be fast- tracked while complying meticulously with all legislative prescripts.

9 35 6.

SAPS TSHWANE TRAINING ACADEMY, PRETORIA, GAUTENG PROVINCE 6.1.

Opening and site visit The Committee conducted a walk-about at the campus grounds of the Tshwane Training Academy, including bungalows, classrooms, kitchen and dining facilities.
A Member noted that the level of hygiene seemed higher in the 3 SAI Bn kitchen compared to that of the SAPS Training Academy.

The Committee had a very positive engagement with the trainees at the Tshwane Training Academy Parade Grounds.

The Chairperson addressed trainees with words of encouragement to complete their training and uphold discipline when deployed at police stations countrywide.

The Committee Members engaged with trainees on the parade ground.

6.2.
6.2.

Presentation The presentation of the Department detailed the following aspects: Introduction; • • Number of trainees placed; • Number of trainers and number of vacancies; • Irregular appointment/ recruitment based on forensic review; • Update on the incident regarding the injury of Constable Ntinga; • Challenges experienced; and • Overview: Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP) Curriculum.

Note: The presentations can be obtained from the Committee Secretary on request.

6.3.
6.3.

Deliberations The Committee raised the following concerns during deliberations: 1) The Committee questioned whether there is an equitable share of trainees from all provinces, and an equitable share of gender representation at the Academy.

The Committee further indicated that perceptions that policing is a man’s job is patriarchal, outdated and must be addressed.
2) The Committee requested the Department to indicate what the cost implications are of the trainees that drop out from training, and indicated that there must be penalties associated for funds spent on trainees that do not complete the Basic Training course.

3) The Committee requested the Department to provide an age breakdown of trainees, and that an intergenerational mix of police personnel is essential to the advancement of the Department.

6.4.
6.4.

Responses The following responses were received from the Department: 1) The Department does not recruit from individual provinces.

Recruitment drives are done at a national level.

After training, a gap analysis is conducted to identify 10 36 personnel needs at provincial levels and deployments are done on this basis.

Trainees must acknowledge (during application) that they are willing to be deployed to any police station countrywide.
2) The Department stated that 52 per cent of all applications were from females, which is an increase compared to the previous year.

Unfortunately, many female applicants are not taken into training based on various reasons including falling pregnant during the recruitment process.

The Department indicated that they are experiencing significant challenges with applicants from minority race groups, including White, Coloured and Indian groups.
To mitigate this, the SAPS are doing targeted recruitment drives to attract minority race groups to join the SAPS.

3) The Department detailed the rigorous recruitment standards for trainees and indicated that this entails two rounds of fingerprint testing, DNA testing, and vetting investigations (amongst others).

4) The Department is moving towards an e-Recruitment system to mitigate the bulk of applications received annually.

In 2022/23, more than 500 000 applications were received.
5) The Department indicated that the recoup of funds is included in the MOU with trainees, but is not monitored effectively.

The Department indicated that the funds cannot be deducted from Members’ pension funds as the trainees are only approved on the pension scheme once employed at police stations.

6.5.
6.5.

Recommendations The Committee recommends the following: 1) The Committee recommends that gender and race parity should be ensured in future recruitment drives to ensure that the SAPS has an equitable gender and racial representation.

7.

CONCLUSION The Committee noted, and expressed its appreciation for the progress made at the CFR.
The Committee encouraged the Department to continue making progress and to ensure that the timeframes and expenditure associated with the digitisation of the CFR are closely monitored and adhered to.

The Committee expressed its gratitude for the recruitment of additional recruits in 2022 and 2023, and indicated that these young men and women represent to future of the SAPS.

The Committee wishes the trainees well in their training and future careers in the SAPS.
The Committee expressed its appreciation to the SAPS Senior Management, Departmental officials and stakeholders for availing themselves over a weekend.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) reserved their rights.

Report to be considered.

11 37 3.


Report of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on oversight visit to Northern Cape and North-West Provinces, 31 May 2023 The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements (hereafter the Committee) embarked on a five- day oversight visit to the Northern Cape (27 to 28) and the North-West (29 to 31) Province from 27 to 31 March 2023.

The Committee reports as follows: 1.


Background and purpose of the oversight visit to Northern Cape and North-West Provinces The Committee has a duty to exercise oversight over the executive organ of state which falls under its portfolio.

This is to ensure that that the executive fulfils its mandate and is held accountable at all times.
In order to protect the environment and ensure the development of sustainable human settlements, oversight visits enable the Committee to be better positioned to understand proposed programmes, projects, targets that have been achieved and challenges that hinder service delivery.
The objective of the visit was to hold a briefing session with the provincial department, municipalities as well as other stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the human settlements’ strategic plans, projects, and programmes.

The Committee requested the provincial department to assist with the planning of the Oversight visit with regards to the list of projects to be visited along the Kimberly and Kuruman area.
The Committee also requested to be accompanied by relevant departmental officials during its oversight visit to the province.
The focus of the oversight visit was to address the following key issues: • Implementation of a comprehensive, integrated human settlements strategy in the province; • Progress made towards the achievement of Outcome 8 outputs and targets set for 2022/23; • Budget expenditure and performance in meeting service delivery targets set for 2022/23; 1 38 • Progress made in the issuing of pre- and post- 1994 title deeds and challenges hindering this programme; • Progress made in the construction of houses for military veterans and challenges encountered; • Progress made on the construction of houses for destitute, special needs and vulnerable people; • Rural and farm worker assistance, housing co-operatives assistance programme as well as the People’s Housing Process; • Plans and progress on conversion of hostels into Community Residential Units (CRUs); • Co-ordination and management of the beneficiary list and incorporation of backyard dwellers into the provincial housing database; • Use of alternative technologies in construction.
2.

Briefing by the Northern Cape Provincial Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) Mr B Vass, Member of Executive Committee (MEC), led the Provincial Department accompanied by Mr B Lenkoe, the Head of Department.

Mr Booysen, presented on behalf of the Provincial Department, the presentation was outlined as: the provincial context; financial and non-financial report; Medium Term Strategic Framework progress.
In his opening remarks, the MEC informed the delegation that the Provincial Department was facing challenges of vacant posts.

He indicated that the Provincial Department was requiring more money to deliver top structure as the backlog was at 80 000.

He further indicated that the issue of building material was also a serious challenge, as there were only two to three hardware stores that were assisting.
Building materials were mainly sourced from Western Cape and Gauteng province, this required extra funds.

In addition, the contractors were not performing well due to finances, as the subsidy quantum was not adequate.

2.1 Presentation made by Mr G Booysen – Acting Chief Director of Human Settlements The Northern Cape Department of COGHSTA reported that it had received a limited budget over three years for servicing of sites and construction of housing units.
The total budget over three years was R1 111 818 000, the 25 000 project was CoGHSTA’s initiative to complete township establishment processes and to install basic municipal services in 25 000 stands using 2 39 its grant allocation over a period five years.

By the time of the visit 12 000 serviced sites had already been completed, the total budget per annum was R5 849 317 324,28.
The province was spending 100% on both Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) and on the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP).

With regards to the Outcome 8 and outputs and targets set for 2022/23 the province delivery was 1 432 Breaking New Ground (BNG), 40 for Financed Link Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), 7 057 serviced sites.

There was no delivery on the rental housing units, however, 458 Community Residential Units (CRUs) and 13 informal settlements were upgraded to phase 3.
With regards to the eradication of the title deeds, the Provincial Department delivered 786 pre 1994, 1371 post 1994, 513 post 1994 and there were no new title deeds registered.

As part of the intervention strategy, the province would prioritize pre and post 1994 backlogs by allocating additional funding and sourcing additional capacity.
The Provincial Department reported that the main challenges in fast-tracking the issuing of title deeds were the delays experienced in the gathering of FICA documents by municipalities and conveyancers; long turnaround time in getting registration documents signed by the Municipalities; delays in the release of land owned by Public Works / Rural Development; re-layout of General Plans was delaying the registration of properties; standardized Operating Procedures at the Deeds Office not implemented and the application for lost Title Deeds by individual or the Municipality.
It was reported that there were no serviced sites for Military Veterans, however, there were 10 houses or units that were delivered and an amount of R786 151 was spent.

The Provincial Department cited the lack of an adequate budget to address the demand for the programme; lack of suitable municipal serviced stands, the Department of Military Veterans database challenges; slow verification and validation process of Military Veterans and top up funding slow.
It was reported that the CoGHSTA was catering for all of its beneficiaries under all the housing programmes with priority on the elderly, vulnerable and destitute.

The National Housing Needs Register was used to manage beneficiaries.

It was further reported that with regards to People’s Housing Process (PHP) project there was one in the pipeline for implementation in the following financial year.
Rural and Farmworker Assistance and Housing Corporative, which was not implemented in the current financial year, would be prioritised in the following MTEF.

The Provincial Department reported that there were 458 completed CRU units at the Lerato Park Project in Kimberley.

There were no other hostel redevelopment 3 40 programmes, however there were hostels that the Provincial Department was looking at developing in the Namakwa District.
The Provincial Department reported it was not implementing Alternative Building Technology (ABT) due to the lack of beneficiary buy-in and support of this technology.

Beneficiaries were not trusting the new technology and prefer the old methods of building.

3.
3.

Site Visits in the Northern Cape 3.1 Lerato Park – Community Residential Units (491) The Lerato Park Integrated Housing Development Project was intended to capture the principles of an integrated housing development project offering different tenure options.
The Project was located within the jurisdiction area of the Sol Plaatje Municipality (SPM) planned to deliver approximately 4 654 subsidised, institutional and bonded units, subject to the availability of funding by the various funding sources for the Project.

COGHSTA was the developer and the SPM is the land owner.

The land was made available by the SPM to COGHSTA for the development of the project by means of a Land Availability Agreement.
During the site visit, the delegation viewed bachelor flat and two bedrooms’ flats.

The flats were fixed with cupboards, two burner stove and bathroom with bath.

The delegation interacted with the residents who were not happy, they were told that the flats were offered as rent-to- buy, however, they were later informed that the flats were only available for rental.

As a result, they submitted a petition to the Provincial Department.
Some tenants were not paying their rentals, while others were reversing their debit orders.

The Provincial Department and the Municipality were advised to get a company to manage the project and to ensure that the rentals were properly collected.

3.2 Lerato Park – Military Veteran’s Houses The delegation visited one of the houses owned by Military Veterans, a two bedroomed house with a carport.

The owner of the house was happy that he had been allocated and received the house.
4 41 3.3 Roodepan Flats in Kimberly The SLM had a total rental stock of 1092 units in Kimberley, Roodepan, Beaconsfield, Kenilworth and Galeshewe, as reflected in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the municipality.

The Roodepan Flats were built by the previous apartheid regime in an exclusively coloured area at the time and there were about 408 units.

Rental collection was very poor due to the fact that most tenants that live in the units were poor and cannot afford to pay rent.
The Roodepan Flats were in a poor state structurally and had been neglected by the SLM for several years and it was suggested that they should be demolished.

Occupants were to be relocated to temporary structure pending the approval of available land by the National Department.

It was not known how many people were residing in that block of flats and there was no beneficiary list developed.
3.4 Hulle Street Social Housing Project The delegation was welcomed by Mr L Hlangwana, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who presented the background of the project.

The CEO informed the delegation that the South African Swedish Africa International Housing Company NPC, formerly called Sol Plaatjie Housing Company, was a section 21 Not-for-Profit Company established in terms of the old Companies Act [ Act 61 of 1973].
It was also a Public Benefit Organisation [PBO] in terms of the Income Tax Act [Act 58 of 1962] and was in Hull Street, De Beers in Kimberley.

The project was a social housing consisting of 372 units.

The total value of the project was R144 591,056.

The site was handed over to the principal contractor in 6 July 2022.
The Housing Company was conditionally an accredited social housing institute with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority [SHRA] in terms of the Social Housing Act [Act 16 of 2208] and its Regulations.

SASIHC’s core business was property development and management.
Its housing portfolio made of social housing stock (20%) as well as commercial property development (80%) in the bonded (mortgage) sector financed by commercial banks such as Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA), Standard Bank, Nedbank, First National Bank (FNB), and SA Home Loans.
The CEO reported to the delegation that there was a challenge of this ground water which was not detected when geotechnical and feasibility studies were concluded and approved by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

The contractor reported that they had 5 42 found a method of pumping water out of the foundations.

Some members of the community informed the delegation that the project was supposed to be a donation from the Swedish government.
They also claimed that the land that was going to be developed was not safe because it was near to the mine and it had sinkholes.

Furthermore, they claimed that there were unable to open windows in their houses, as a result of the poisonous dust from the mine, which caused sicknesses such chest and lung problems.

The CEO indicated that the houses were never a donation but rent-to-buy.

He also stated that the land was surveyed and there was no risk reported at all.
With regards to water challenges, he reported that water would be pumped out, the construction would continue, and would be able to meet the deadline set.

3.5 Khathu – Sesheng 1 The delegation visited the site were 1 265 sites in the informal settlements.

The developer was Housing Development Agency (HDA) and the contractor was on site, but dispute was declared.
Then the matter was in progress in the court and the municipality was waiting for the ruling, hoped that by June 2023 there would be some answers.

In phase 1, the project was not complete and had to include Geographic Information System (GIS).

The contractor took the Provincial Department to court to sort out issues of services.

It was reported that social facilitation was conducted and the community was aware of what was happening.
The delegation urged the municipality that it should ensure that the land was not invaded.

3.6 Bankhara 200 in Ward 2 The delegation was informed that on 24 March 2023, the house was handed over to the elderly woman and also to a person with disabilities.

The house was a two-bedroomed (45m²) with open lounge and kitchen and a bathroom.

There was also an outside toilet – Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP).

It was reported that water pressure was very low to pump water into the houses.
It was also stated that load shedding was a contributing factor to the pumping of water.

The electricity box was still in the temporal structure and was going to be moved and be installed in the main house.

It was reported that there was a reservoir that was under construction that would assist the entire town and other villages with water.

6 43 4.
6 43 4.

Briefing by the North-West Provincial Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Mr N Maloyi, Member of the Executive Council (MEC), led the departmental delegation, and he was accompanied by Ms Mahlobo, the Head of the Provincial Department and other officials.
Ms Mahlobo presented on behalf of the Provincial Department, the presentation outlined the following: 4.1 Integrated Human Settlements Planning The Provincial Department reported that in its planning processes, it had engaged the municipalities through established District Development Forum on human settlement planning.

However, it was reported that the Provincial Department was facing challenges relating to the lack of participation by some of the departments.
The participation of all the departments in the District Development Forum, enabled the Provincial Department to also provide the required social and economic amenities such as schools, play areas and community halls.

This allowed the Accounting Officer to table key catalytic or mega projects before an HOD’s Forum.
In preparation for the following financial year the Provincial Department would engage the Premier’s Office for their involvement during business planning processes so that identified projects could be tabled in the broader provincial planning forums so that sister departments could plan for provision of necessary socio-economic amenities for realisation of integrated human settlements.
4.2 Achievement of outcome 8 output and targets for 2022/23 financial year The Provincial Department reported that it had achieved 7245 sites and 3221 units.

In the title restoration programme, 4 404 was achieved and 687 title deeds were handed over to beneficiaries.

The expenditure on the outcome 8 output was at R1 521 594, 119% which include bulk and the professional fees.
On the special programmes, achievements were as follows: catalytic projects 139 out of 591; mining town 1068 out of 1418; Military Veterans was 0 out of 95; mud houses 806; blocked 5 out of 247; women in construction 505 out of 809.

4.3 Title Deed restoration 7 44 The Provincial Department had appointed and allocated work to all 25 conveyancers on the database envisaged to register 34 532 title deeds which were way above the target of 15 210, as reported in the business plan for 2023/24.
There would be steering committee meetings held monthly with conveyancers, municipal officials, wards councillors and the Provincial Department to monitor progress and resolve challenges.

New appointments for the construction of houses would exclude title deeds and the database for conveyancers would be used for title deeds registration on new projects.

Youth from the affected township, working with ward councillors, would be appointed to assist conveyancers with beneficiary verification.
The North West Housing Corporation (NWHC) targets would be achieved.

The Business Plan target for NWHC excludes Mahikeng, Ditsobotla, and Ramotshere Moiloa.

4.4 Construction of houses for Military Veterans and challenges encountered The Provincial Department reported that in Letabong, there were 22 approved units.

The contractor had been appointed to construct seven units where there were readily available stands.

Plans were approved by municipality and the project was enrolled with NHBRC.
The contractor was ready to occupy the site pending Department of Military Veterans (DMV) issue on the Norms and Standards.

The other remaining 14 beneficiaries were still waiting for the municipality to finalize the provision of stands at Boitekong Ext 16.

The Provincial Department had been engaging the municipality in this regard.

In various villages, in Mahikeng, there were 22 approved units for Military Veterans.
The contractor had been appointed and introduced to both the municipality and beneficiaries.

Serviced stands provided by the municipality at Ext.

38 and 39.

The contractor was ready to finalize the designs and occupy site pending the DMV issue on Norms and Standards.

In Kagisano Molopo (Ganyesa), there were 11 approved units.

The contractor had been appointed to construct 18 (Ganyesa) and 02 units at Tlakgameng where there were readily available stands.

In Moses Kotane, there were 6 approved units.


Plans were approved by municipality and the project enrolled with NHBRC.

It was reported that the challenge was the request by beneficiaries to amend the applicable Norms and Standards with regards to replacing the carport with additional bedroom.

8 45 The Provincial Department cited challenges on engaging DMV, the request of changing the carport to another room was not fully supported by DMV.
The matter had also been escalated to Minister and Members of the Executive Council Meeting (MinMEC) for further processing by the two Ministers and await the outcome thereof.

At the Joint Provincial Coordinators Meeting held on 23/03/2023, a decision was taken that the Province should consider implementing the projects using the current applicable Norms and Standards until a final decision is reached and officially directed.
4.5 Construction of houses for destitute, special needs and vulnerable people The Provincial Department reported that it was making use of the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR) to prioritise beneficiaries that fall under the category of destitute, special needs and vulnerable people.

Municipalities were also encouraged to assist with prioritization of the vulnerable groups, in the beneficiary list they provided for individual projects where NHNR was not in use.
4.6 Rural and Farmworker assistance, housing co-operatives assistance programme and People’s Housing Process It was reported that in Khuma Hostels were in a bad condition and were demolished in order to provide decent housing.

Temporary structures were built and the residents were relocated.

The construction of walk-up flats in Khuma was stopped due to dolomitic land.

The NHBRC requested that the Provincial Department not continue any construction in Khuma until the issues of services were resolved.
The Provincial Department appointed developers for the construction of 210 temporary units at a cost of R64,441.00 per unit.

The Provincial Department bought alternative land to house the affected beneficiaries for Khuma, and at that time, the planning stage for township establishment was taking place.
4.7 Co-ordination and management of the beneficiary list and incorporation of backyard dwellers into provincial housing database The Provincial Department reported that it was making use of the National Housing Needs Register to prioritize and manage beneficiaries in various human settlements programmes.

The province has not experienced challenges on the backyard dwellers thus far.
4.8 Alternative Building Technology (ABT) 9 46 The Provincial Department had over a number of years received proposals for ABT from various service providers.

In one case, a service provider was appointed by the Provincial Department in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati to deliver top structures using ABT with zero delivery of units.

The Provincial Department was planning a symposium on ABT and would involve National Department as a lot ground work has been done.
Socially ABT had not been fully embraced by communities.

5.

Deliberations The delegation welcomed the presentation and the information received and ask clarity seeking questions and raised comments as follows: • The delegation was concerned about the issue of military veterans, citing that the construction of their houses was at snail pace.

This includes the issue of norms and standards and pleaded that the province to expedite the matter.
• Clarity was sought on how much was required to eradicate mud houses and asbestos roofing’s in the entire province.

The delegation required clear targets for the province as the matter was elevated to the Minister’s office due to lack of commitment by the provinces.

• Clarity was sought on how much was required to unblock blocked projects that were blocked since 2005, what were the challenges encountered.
• It was enquired whether the province was still facing challenges of township establishment that result in the lack of the issuance of title deeds and whether title deeds were issued to the recent constructed houses.

It was further stated that the matter of title deeds was elevated to the Presidency due to challenges of township establishment.
• The delegation sought clarity on the definition of site and service, wanted to know whether the province was availing serviced sites to beneficiaries who were able to buy and build for themselves.

• Clarity was sought as there seem to be a confusion on the catalytic and mega projects, also the number of units were far less for such projects.
10 47 • The delegation argued that the Community Residential Units programme collapsed due to lack of clear strategy on how to run them and also with the lack of maintenance due to lack of revenue collection.

It was enquired on what were the plans or strategy to deal with land invasions.

5.1 Responses by the Provincial Department The Provincial Department in its response, it stated that: • It was monitoring the construction of housing units, there were plans to deliver as per the set targets.
In the planning processes, the Provincial Department engages municipalities through established District Development Forum (DDF) on human settlement planning.

The Provincial Department participated in the District Development Model (DDM) of the Province.

The challenge that the Provincial Department had always faced is lack of participation from other departments in order for them provide required social and economic amenities such as schools, play areas and community halls.
In trying to address the above, the Accounting Officer would table key catalytic or mega projects before an HOD’s forum.

• In preparation for the following financial year the Provincial Department would engage the Premier’s office for their involvement during business planning processes so that identified projects can be tabled in the broader provincial planning forums so that sister departments can plan for provision of necessary socio-economic amenities for realisation of integrated human settlements.
• The title deeds intervention was moving slowly until the Province appointed 25 conveyancers in quarter 3 which brought a great improvement with delivery of 6 035 out of 10 202 which represents 59%.

The questions raised that what might cause the delays in the issuance of title deeds were the houses occupied by the unqualified beneficiaries.
• The Province experienced some challenges with the building design for military veterans and there was no output for this current financial year and the challenges were escalated to the MinMEC.

The Province also planned to allocate the military veterans units to the appointed contractor within the area or nearby contractors to avoid the construction delays due to the scattered of the beneficiaries.
11 48 • In terms of addressing the issue of mud houses, the Provincial Department stated that most of the projects were implemented in the predominated rural areas which was also addressing eradication of mud houses.

• With regards to the Community Residential units, the Provincial Department stated that most of the beneficiaries were not paying Municipality bills and proposing to hand the program to the Municipality.
• In responding to the issue of blocked projects, the Municipality together with the Provincial Department stated the reasons contributed to the blocked projects were the slow performance of the contractors which resulted in incomplete projects as per the signed contract and payment delays by the Provincial Department.

The two stakeholders decided to terminate the non-performancing contractors to avoid the projects to be blocked.
It was reported that the Canadians were willing to invest on North West Project, the discussion meeting was scheduled for April 2023 to ensure that the two countries were aware of the investment interest.

After the agreement is reached, the money would assist to address the unblock projects.

• The issue of migration to human settlements to be addressed by engaging all the departments to ensure that the basic services are catered for the beneficiaries and social amenities would be part of the development.
6.

Oversight Visits 6.1 Naledi Vryburg Ext - 29 The project was a mixed project of BNG and bond houses.

Beneficiaries were relocated to the projects to eradicate the shacks by ensuring that the constructed units were not rented which would hinder the rightful owners to continue staying at informal settlements.

Beneficiaries who extended their RDP and the houses which were valued at R 100 000 needed to pay Municipality bills.

Water meters were not connected to avoid theft and vandalism.
Water meters would be connected as soon as the stands were occupied to ensure safety.

6.2 Vryburg Ext 29, Huhudi Ext 1 The layout of the project was not done properly as some of the stands encroached municipality boundaries while other were right on the streets.

12 49 6.3 Tswaing Kopela 700 The Beyond Build project was allocated 700 units to be constructed in Kopela Village within the Ngaka Modiri District.
During verification it was found that one of the disabled beneficiary’s housing unit was left by Mercycon contractor at wall plate stage.

The beneficiary lived in a shack which was not safe during the unfavourable weather conditions.

The Committee gave the Provincial Department one-month period to complete the housing unit.

The delegation requested the Provincial Department to make an agreement with the contractor that was on site to complete the abandoned milestone within a month.
Furthermore, to ensure that the completion payment arrangement was done accordingly between the two contractors.

The delegation advised the Provincial Department to transfer the outstanding scope of the non- performance contractor to the performing contractor.

The Provincial Department should consult with the elderly person who was in Diretsane about the proposal of building her a house in Kopela and if she was willing to relocate, the contractor should build her a house within the area of implementation.
There was inadequate water in the area of implementation and the contractor made the borehole to ensure that he met the contract deadline.

The Contractor informed the delegation that that he would donate the borehole to the community.

The Municipality supply the community with water twice a week.

6.4 Shaleng The Provincial Department entered into contract with Foxido in October 2019 to construct 250 units in Shaleng village.

Out of 250 beneficiaries, only 128 applicants were approved.
Since the inception of the projects, the contractor casted 52 foundations and 43 wall plates with no delivery on the ground.

Due to non-performance of the contractor, the Provincial Department met with the contractor to address the problems encountered by the contractor.

The contractor promised to completed 25 units which he failed to deliver.

Foxido entered into cessionary with Martha to continue with work on the ground.
Foxido failed to make outstanding payments to the tribal Chief and labourer’s which impeded the ceded contractor to progress with the work on the ground.

The delegation stated that it would be unfair for the ceded contractor to pay debts of the main contractor.

13 50 The delegation requested the Provincial Department to compile a report stating the steps to be taken for the non-performance contractor and how the ceded contractor was going to be assisted.
It was emphasized that the Provincial Department should terminate and also blacklist the non-performance contractor.

The delegation also emphasized that women contractors should be assisted in construction industry.

Youth and disability should also need to partake in order to be empowered in the construction industry.

6.5 Tswaing Mafufutso 1 and 2 1200 It was reported that the Provincial Department entered into contract with Ezekiel Moeti Construction to construct 400 units in Tswaing Mafufutso.
To date 20 units were completed and 56 foundations were casted and 45 units at wall plate.

The contractor’s performance was very slow.

The delegation stated that the contractor should concentrate on the milestone performed and no extension should be granted.

The delegation also stated that the contractor should be terminated and blacklisted to ensure that the appointed contractors adhered to the completion time without outstanding work.
The Department was requested to provide a way forward report in 7 working days.

The project was not visited as there was no contractor on site and challenges were already reported.

6.6 Madibogo The delegation attended to one of the beneficiaries residing at 205 whose house was left at roof level stage in 2021.

The Provincial Department was requested to find another contractor to complete the house.

The Provincial Department promised the delegation that they would provide feedback within 21 days.
6.7 Boitekong Ext 16 - Drop Dot The Provincial Department entered into an agreement with Drop Dot PTY LTD in January 2022 for the design and installation of internal services for 2 300 stands in Boitekong Ext.16.

The services entail the installation of water reticulation, gravel roads, sanitation reticulation.

The delegation requested the Provincial Department to request the Municipality to avail sites for those who want to purchase the sites and build for themselves.
The project was implemented 14 51 in Green field and the Committee asked if the sites for amenities were identified.

The Provincial Department stated that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) would lead in that regard.

The project was delayed due to hard rock that was encountered.

6.7 Dinie Estate The Provincial Department entered into an agreement with Drop Dot to construct 300 units in Dinie Estate within Rustenburg Municipality.
Rustenburg Local Municipality was one of the Municipalities in the Province that was surrounded by both urban and rural settlements; Dinie Estate being one of the informal settlements within the municipality.

The Project was moving at slow pace.

The untraceable beneficiaries contributed to the delays in the project.

The Committee identified that the gutters of stand number 1398 are falling apart and requested the Provincial Department to attend to the matter.

7.
7.

Complaint lodged in Mogwase unit 8 (700) There was one complain reported for Mogwase unit 8 where the complainants reported illegal occupation, invasion and houses sold in the projects.

Support staff; the Content Advisor and the Researcher, advised the complainants to lodge the complaint by writing a letter listing all their issues.

They were also provided with the contact details of Committee Secretary to process the matter.

8.
8.

Recommendations made by the Committee: The Committee provided the following recommendations: 8.1 Northern Cape Provincial Department • Fast-tract the filling of vacant posts to ensure the stability and improve performance of the Provincial Department.

• Encourage local contractors to use approved, sustainable, locally produced alternative building materials in order to address the issue of scarcity of building materials in the Province.
Ensure that prospective beneficiaries buy-in and support alternative building materials.

15 52 • Fast-track the issuing of title deeds programme.

Address all issues preventing the issuing of title deeds.

• Ensure that people renting in social housing, such Roodepan Flats, are willing and able to pay rent in order to improve revenue collection.

Frequent occupancy studies should be conducted.

• Ensure cash injection in order to help unblock the blocked projects.
• Ensure integrated planning and participation by other sister departments in human settlements development.

• Ensure the delivery of Military Veterans houses.

Ensure that housing designs and size are acceptable to prospective beneficiaries.

• Develop a strategy to deal with the mushrooming of informal settlements in mining town areas.

• Ensure the provision of bulk infrastructure before the implementation of housing projects.

• Ensure the visibility of NHBRC.


• Ensure that houses are not developed in the periphery of towns and cities.

8.2 North-West Provincial Department • Use the DDM and District the DDF to ensure integrated planning so that human settlements are developed with social and economic amenities.

• Fast-track the construction of houses for Military Veterans.

• Address challenges of associated with township establishment to improve the title deeds issuance.
• Develop a clear strategy to run Community Residential Units.

This strategy should ensure proper maintenance and revenue collection.

• Develop a clear strategy to deal with land invasions.

• Develop a strategy to eradicate mud houses and asbestos roofing.

• Complete the housing unit for the disabled beneficiary left incomplete by Mercycon contractor, in Kopela Village.

This must be done within 21 days.

• Arrange with the contractor that was on site to complete the abandoned milestone within a month.
Furthermore, ensure that the completion payment arrangement is done accordingly between the two contractors, in Kopela Village.

The councillor, who was 16 53 alleged to removing windows because of community unhappiness, should be encouraged to report any project disruptions to the MEC.
• Consult with the elderly person who was in Diretsane Village about the proposal of building her a house in Kopela Village and if she is willing to relocate, the contractor should build her a house within the area of implementation.

This must be done within a month and reported to the Committee.

• Blacklist Foxido because of non-performance in Shaleng and Mafufutso Village.

The Provincial Department should provide a way forward report in 7 working days.
• Assist women contractors in construction industry.

Empower youth and disability to partake in the construction industry.

• Fast-track the installation of internal services in Dinie Estate.

• Incorporate self-help or People Housing Process (PHP) into all projects to ensure the involvement communities their housing development.

• Ensure that beneficiary lists are accessible to everyone involved in projects.
• Ensure close monitoring of all housing projects and institute consequence management in cases of deliberate non-performance.

• Recoup monies from contractor in Mafufutso project who was alleged to be overpaid.

• Address community unrest and stealing of building materials.

• Present to the Committee on how session arrangements between contractors are managed by the Department.

Report to be considered.

17 54 4.


REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT ON THE 2022/23 THIRD QUARTER EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT DATED 30 MAY 2023 The Portfolio Committee on Transport, having considered the expenditure of the Department of Transport for the Third Quarter of the 2022/23 financial year on 2 May 2023, reports as follows: 1.
INTRODUCTION The prime mandate of the Committee is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (“the Constitution”), in respect of its legislative and oversight responsibilities as public representatives.

It is required to consider legislation referred to it and consider all matters referred to it in terms of the Constitution, the Rules of the National Assembly or resolutions of the House.

It is also required to respond to matters referred to it by Government within its mandate.
In addition, the Committee is entrusted with considering the budgets, Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans of the Department and entities that fall within the transport portfolio.

This report provides an overview of the expenditure of the Department of Transport for the Third Quarter of the 2022/23 financial year, as presented to the Committee on 2 May 2023.

2.
2.

ANALYSIS OF THE 2022/23 THIRD QUARTER EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT In 2022/23, the budget allocation of the Department of Transport (“the Department”) stands at R95.1 billion.

By the end of the Third Quarter of the financial year, the Department had spent R50.3 billion (or 52.8%) of the total available budget, against a projection of 51.8 billion.1 The slower than planned spending was R1.5 billion (or 2.9%).

1 National Treasury (2022a), p. 153.


55 As at the end of the Third Quarter of 2022/23, the Department had spent R376.1 million against the Third Quarter projection of R395.5 million for Compensation of Employees (CoE).

The Department spent R18.4 million lower than projected mainly owing to the slow filling of vacant posts.2 The Department had 733 filled posts against a funded establishment of 813 posts.
This translated into a vacancy rate of 9.8% (or 80 vacant posts).3 The vacancy rate of the Department increased by 0.7%, from 9.1% (or 74 vacant posts) in the Second Quarter of 2022/23.4 During that period, the Department had 739 filled posts against a funded establishment of 813 posts.5 2.1 BUDGET EXPENDITURE PER PROGRAMME Table 1: Budget Expenditure per Programme ’ % % - D I V O C g n i d n e p S r e t s a s i D Administra 507.8 517.8 517.8 332.5 64.2% 372.3 39.8 10.7% 0.1 0.0 tion Integrated 93 93 93 54.9 59.1% 66.1 11.2 16.9% 0.0 0.0 Transport Planning Rail 19 991.8 20 012.4 20 012.4 14 992.4 74.9% 15 031.9 39.5 0.3% 0.0 0.0 Transport Road 33 983.4 59 954.5 59 954.5 26 651.5 44.5% 26 832.8 181.3 0.7% 0.0 416.5 Transport 2 National Treasury (2022a), p. 155.
3 Ibid.

4 National Treasury (2022b), p. 147.

5 Ibid.
56 ’ % % - D I V O C g n i d n e p S r e t s a s i D Civil 424.8 424.8 424.8 279.5 65.8% 312.1 32.6 10.4% 0.0 0.0 Aviation Transport Maritime 155.4 158.2 158.2 110.9 70.1% 113.7 2.9 2.5% 0.0 0.0 Transport Public 13 969.9 13 973.6 13 973.6 7 848.2 56.2% 9 027 1 178.8 13.1% 0.0 0.0 Transport Total 69 125.9 95 134.2 95 134.2 50 269.9 52.8% 51 755.9 1 486 2.9% 0.1 416.5 (Source: National Treasury (2022a).
2.1.1 Programme 1: Administration By the end of the Third Quarter of 2022/23, the Administration programme had spent R332.5 million against the Quarter’s projection of R372.3 million.
Spending was 10.7% (or R39.8 million) lower than projected largely due to delays in procuring a document management solution for the Department, the preparatory work to investigate a public-private partnership for office accommodation and bursaries for non-employees.6 2.1.2 Programme 2: Integrated Transport Planning 6 Department of Transport (2022a), p. 154.

57 In the Integrated Transport Planning programme, the Department spent R54.9 million against the Third Quarter projection of R66.1 million.
The lower than expected spending of 16.9%, equivalent to R11.2 million, was owing to the slow progress on the following projects:7 • Road Freight Strategy; • District Development Model; and • National Land Transport Strategic Framework.

2.1.3 Programme 3: Rail Transport The Department spent R15 billion against the Third Quarter projection of R15.03 billion in the Rail Transport programme.
Spending was 0.3% (R39.5 million) lower than expected due to slow expenditure on Goods and Services for projects such as the National Rail Master Plan, payments to the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for the work on relocating households living on the Central Line and projects undertaken by the interim Rail Economic Regulator.8 2.1.4 Programme 4: Road Transport In the Road Transport programme, the Department spent R26.7 billion against the Third Quarter projection of R26.8 billion.
Spending was 0.7% (or R181.3 million) lower than projected owing to the transfer to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) for operations and the Administrative Adjudication of Road Offences (AARTO) rollout that had not been made.
In addition, the lower than projected spending emanated from the withheld funds to district municipalities under the Rural Roads Asset Management Systems (RRAMS) Grant thanks to non- compliance with grant conditions.9 2.1.5 Programme 5: Civil Aviation Transport 7 Department of Transport (2022a), p. 154.

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

58 The Department spent R279.5 million against the Third Quarter projection of R312.1 million.
Lower than planned spending was 10.4% (or R32.6 million) owing to delays in projects such as the National Aviation Transformation Strategy, as well as the Review of the Airlift Strategy Implementation.10 2.1.6 Programme 6: Maritime Transport In the Maritime Transport programme, the Department spent R110.9 million against the Third Quarter projection of R113.7 million, translating into a slower than planned spending of 2.5% – equivalent to R2.9 million.
Spending delays were due to “slow progress” on projects such as the Marine Court of Enquiry and Automated Vessel Clearance.11 2.1.7 Programme 7: Public Transport As at the end of the Third Quarter of 2022/23, the Department had spent R7.9 billion against the Quarter’s projection of R9 billion.
Spending was 13.1% (or R1.2 billion) lower than projected owing to funds under the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) for the eThekwini Municipality that had been withheld because of non-compliance with the conditions set out in the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) (No.
5 of 2022).12 Moreover, there was slower than planned expenditure on Goods and Services for the implementation of the following projects:13 • Implementation of integrated public transport networks (IPTNs) in district municipalities; • Shova Kalula Bicycle programme; • Delayed spending in the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP); • National Land Transport Information System upgrade; • Capacity for public transport grant monitoring; and 10 Department of Transport (2022a), p. 154.
11 National Treasury (2022a), p. 154.

12 Ibid.

13 Ibid.

59 • Technical advisory services.

2.2 COVID-19 RESPONSE As at 31 December 2022, the Department had spent R125 000, 00 on COVID-19 related projects and business activities.
The COVID-19 spending mostly pertained to the procurement of protective equipment within the Department, as well as support to public transport operators in response to the pandemic.14 2.3 DISASTER RESPONSE By the end of the period under review, the Department had spent R416.5 million on flood damages from the 2019 flood disaster in KwaZulu-Natal.15 This was through the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant (PRMG).
It was reported that “the allocation for disaster repairs from the 2022 flood damages will only be reflected in the 2022 Adjustment, as part of the next year’s baseline allocation”.16 3.

COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS Members made the following observations during discussions: 3.1 Considering the reports on figures from the provinces for the period under review, it was noted that the figures differed slightly from the presentation.
There seemed to be a challenge regarding the coordination of IPTN plans as well as the grants they receive.

3.2 There were concerns raised regarding the setting of targets merely focussed on delivery within a specific timeframe, whilst the quality of the delivered target is not measured.

14 National Treasury (2022a), p. 154.

15 National Treasury (2022a), p. 155.

16 Ibid.

60 3.3 The choice of wording of some targets were queried.
Examples were on the resolution of corruption incidents as well as the wording used to measure or report on skills training.

3.4 Where targets were set with plans to regulate or roll-out within provinces (IPTN, PRMG, PTOG, Vala Zonke, Rural Bridge Repairs, Metrorail corridors, km roads upgraded, job opportunities and 24/7 traffic law enforcement operations), the Department was asked to provide detailed information on the identified provinces and roll-out within provinces.
There were also concerns regarding the setting of targets because for some programmes it appeared that targets were set low.

3.5 The annual targets for the PRASA infrastructure programme’s job creation were queried as the current indications are that these may lead to the unintended creation of unfunded posts.

3.6 The Station modernisation annual targets were exceeded with the completion of the 187 stations.
The Department was asked to clarify the need for renovation and improvement of a further 50 train stations when the target was already exceeded.

Conversely it was noted that the Rail corridor recovery did not reach its intended targets.

3.7 The number of unfunded posts within the Department was concerning, considering that in terms of the approved organogram there are still some vacancies to be filled.
3.8 The choice of Rustenburg to run the single ticketing pilot project was questioned and justification for this as well as further details regarding the pilot project was requested from the Department.

3.9 Considering the challenges faced linked to road data by SANRAL for the Vala Zonke Project, the Department was questioned about the cancellation of the Road Asset Management System project in the third quarter.
3.10 Metrorail has not been operating in the Eastern Cape for over a year due to a shortage of locomotives.

It was noted that without taxis there would not be public transport in the country.

3.11 Concerns were raised regarding the performance of the current road safety strategy.
3.12 The response from the Department on universal access for persons with disabilities was not satisfactory as current strategies and infrastructure did not cater for all people with disabilities across the public transport network.

61 3.13 The closure of the DLTC in Joubertina was reported on numerous times to the Department since its closure 27 months ago, but the renovations were still not finalised.

3.14 Rural inaccessibility was a problem and improving accessibility should be prioritised.
3.15 The payment of supplier invoices by the Department within 30 days was queried and the view was expressed that there was a need to ensure that general maintenance was done at airports.

3.16 Concerns were raised regarding the scholar transport programme and there were proposals that this should be addressed within the MINMEC meetings.
3.17 Concerns were also raised regarding the possible obstacles identified with the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme and the Committee would consider the scheduling of a joint meeting with its relevant counterpart Committees for Public Works and Infrastructure as well as Defence.
3.18 Given the continued slow uptake of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) the committee wanted more information from the Department on timeframes for scrapping of vehicles as well as progress on formalisation of the mini-bus taxi industry.

The Committee also considered calling a meeting with the mini-bus taxi industry to collect the stakeholder input on their participation in the TRP scrapping programme as well as their views on the progress towards formalisation of the industry.

4.
4.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee recommends that the Minister, through the Department, ensure the following: 4.1 That the Committee, within a month of the adoption of this report by the National Assembly, be provided with a comprehensive progress report on the new Driving Licence Card Machine and Card Design as well as the setting of a realistic production timeframe.
4.2 That the Committee, within a month of the adoption of this report by the National Assembly, be provided with a report on the reasons why the Rustenburg Local Municipality was chosen for the roll-out of the single ticketing pilot project and the implementation thereof to date.
62 4.3 Future quarterly reports must provide greater detail on the roll-out of projects in provinces, thereby including information per project on the selection criteria used to identify which provinces would be prioritised, jobs created through the projects in the provinces, consideration given to ensure universal access, transformation targets as well as the budget expenditure per province on these projects.
4.4 Quarterly reports must be submitted to the Committee on the progress made to address the 2020 Taxi Lekgotla Resolutions as well as the progress in meeting the scrapping of vehicle targets.

Report to be considered.

63 National Council of Provinces 1.
REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, WATER, SANITATION AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS ON THE 2023/24 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN AND BUDGET VOTE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION, DATED 30 MAY 2023 Having considered and deliberated on the 2023/2024 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Vote of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water, Sanitation and Human Settlement; reports to the National Council of Provinces as follows: 1.
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 1.1 The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act (Act No.9 of 2009) empowers Parliament to recommend, reject or amend budgets of National Departments and Organs of State.

The Act also enjoins Committees of Parliament to compile and adopt Budget Vote Reports, based on interactions with the relevant Departments and entities on their respective strategic and annual performance plans and budgets.

1.2.
1.2.

The Money Bills Amendment Procedures and Related Matters Act (2009) empowers Parliament to recommend, reject or amend budgets of National Departments and Organs of State.

1.3.

The Act also enjoins Committees of Parliament to compile and adopt Budget Vote Reports, based on interactions with the relevant Departments - and Entities reporting to them - on their Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plans and Budgets.

1.4.
1.4.

The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has a constitutional mandate to exercise oversight over the Department of Water Affairs and 1 64 its Public Entities, namely Water Research Commission, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Breede-Gouritz and Inkomati –Usuthu Catchment Management Agencies.

1.5.
1.5.

The mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation is underpinned by the provisions of the constitution and the Bill of Rights, imperative undertaken in the state of the nation addresses, 2030 vision of the National Development Plan as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development related to water and sanitation .

1.5.
1.5.

As part of ensuring executive accountability, strengthening parliamentary oversight and preparing members for the policy debates, the Select Committee considered on 5 May 2023, the Annual Performance plan of the Department of Water and Sanitation 1.6.
The main objective of the virtual meeting was to ensure executive accountability and perform parliamentary oversight on performance and financial information related to Water and Sanitation as planned for the 2023/2024 by the Department of Water and Sanitation 2.

2023/2024 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Allocation of the Department of Water and Sanitation 2.1 The Department of Water and Sanitation presented the 2023/24 annual performance plan and budget allocation to departmental programmes.
The presentation focused on outputs, indicators and annual targets and budget allocation related to departmental programmes, namely, Administration, Water Resource Management and Water Service Management Programmes.

3.

Programme 1: Administration 3.1.

The purpose of this programme is to provide strategic leadership, management and support services to the Department.

The programme also develops and promotes international relations on water resources management with neighbouring countries 3.2.
The 2023/24 output indicators of the administration programme include performance and financial information related to targeted procurement budget spent on youth, 2 65 women and people with disability; implementation of financial recovery plan as well as the implementation of 2023/2024 annual international relation programmes 3.3.

This Programme, which consumes 11.5% of the overall departmental budget, is allocated R1.95 billion in the 2021/22 financial year, up from R1.82 billion in 2020/21.
This reflects a nominal rand increase of R135.7 million, which is a R57 million increase in real terms between 2020/21 and 2021/22, refer to Table 1 for details.

4.

Programme 2: Water Resource Management 4.1.

The purpose of this programme is to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all people and the environment.
This is done by developing a knowledge base and implementing effective policies, procedures and integrated planning strategies for water resources.

4.2.
4.2.

Some of the output indicators for the METF the development and finalization of National Water Act Amendment Bill, National Water Resources Strategy, Raw water charges, water use authorisations, Water Research Commission Levy and regulation for advancement of water allocation reform, transformation of irrigation Boards into Water User Associations and gazetting of the National Water Infrastructure Agency for the establishment 5.

Programme3: Water Service Management 5.1.


The purpose of this programme is to develop, rehabilitate and refurbish the raw water resources and water services infrastructure to meet the socio-economic and environmental needs of South Africa.

5.2.
5.2.

Some of the output indicator for this programme include the completion and implementation of feasibility studies for water and wastewater services projects, 3 66 readiness studies for water and wastewater projects, Regional bulk infrastructure projects, Water S ervices infrastructure grant projects, National Sanitation Integrated Plan, bulk water tarrifs 6.

Departmental Budget Allocation for the METF Period 6.1.

The Department has been allocated an amount of R72.322 billion over the MTEF i.e.
R22.257 billion, R24.180 billion and R25.885 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively.

6.2.

Compensation of Employees is allocated an amount of R5.611 billion over the MTEF i.e.

R1.790 billion, R1.869 billion and R1.951 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively.

6.3.

Goods and Services is allocated R5.563 billion over the MTEF i.e.

R1.755 billion, R1.862 billion and R1.946 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively.

6.4.
6.4.

Transfers and Subsidies is allocated an amount of R46.619 billion over the MTEF i.e.

R14.061 billion, R15.618 billion and R16.940 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively.

6.5.

Payments for capital assets is allocated an amount of R14.530 billion i.e.

R4.650 billion, R4.832 billion and R5.048 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively 6.6.

Additional allocation through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure has significantly increased the departmental budget allocation.
These include R692 million in 2023/24, R673 million 2024/25 and R557 million in 2025/26 to Magalies water to implement the Moretele North Klipvoor Bulk Water supply scheme.

R608 million in each year of the 2023 MTEF to Magalies water to implement Phase 2: Pilanesberg Bulk Water Supply Scheme.

4 67 6.7.

R150 million in 2023/24, R600 million in 2024/25 and R3.6 billion in 2025/26 to the Water Trading Entity to implement the uMkhomazi Water Project - Raw Water Component (uMWP-1).

6.8.
6.8.

R305 million in 2023/24, R593 million in 2024/25 and R481 million in 2025/26 to Drakenstein Local Municipality Sanitation to implement the Sanitation Infrastructure Project.

R348 million in 2023/24, R250 million in 2024/25 and R390 million in 2025/26 to Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality to implement the Water Security Programme.
R86 million in 2023/24, R492 million in 2024/25 and R574 million in 2025/26 to Sol Plaaitje Local Municipality to implement the Integrated Bulk Supply System Intervention 7.

Observations of the Select Committee 7.1.

The Select Committee has welcomed the 2023/2024 Annual Performance Plan and budget allocation of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The committee has noted that the annual performance plan has been aligned and integrated with the medium term strategic framework and the 2023 state of the nation address (SONA) 7.2.
The Select Committee has also noted that some of the 2023/2024 service delivery strategic priorities of the Department of Water and Sanitation include increasing participation of private sector finance and skills in the water sector, improving turn- around time on water licence, promoting transformation in water use, improving billing and revue collection across the water value chain, establishing remaining catchment management agencies and transforming irrigation boards into water user associations 7.3.
The Select Committee has further noted that in terms of internal strategic priorities, the department has committed to eradicate under-expenditure, strengthen financial and HR controls, ensure progress with all financial misconduct disciplinary cases, pursue condonation of historic irregular and unauthorized expenditure.

7.4.
7.4.

The Select Committee has furthermore noted that the department has highlighted investment in infrastructure by fast-tracking of the Lesotho Highlands water project, plans to increase the capacity of major dams in the country.

5 68 7.5.

The Select Committee has also noted the significant progress made by the Department of Water and Sanitation in filling post of the Director- General and Deputy Director General.
The post of Deputy Director General for Infrastructure Management became vacant in November 2022 due to dismissal of the previous incumbent.

The filling of this position is currently on hold, pending the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency 7.6.
While welcoming the progress in filling of senior management posts over the past financial year, the Select Committee raised concerns about lack of information on progress made on war on leaks programme, turn -around time for water licencing, departmental underspending, water crisis, allegations of corruption, lack of consequence management, lack of information in dealing with historical problems, contingency liability, accruals, abuse of water tendering, financial recovery plan, stealing of money meant for water provision, state of water treatment plant and reticulation, backlogs of sanitation in Free State and Northern Cape Provinces, lack of maintenance of water pumping stations in Mokopane, sewage spillage in Makgalakwena.
8.

Recommendations of the Select Committee 8.1.

The Department of Water and Sanitation should provide a provincial update report on the status of water and sanitation projects including the support provided to the municipalities in the country 8.2.
The Department of Water and Sanitation should provide progress reports on implementations of War on Leaks Programmes, ground water use, financial recovery plan dealing with historical problems of corruption, consequence management, irregular expenditure, investigations by the Special Investigation Unit and plans to mitigate the impact of vandalism, theft, load-shedding on water provision.

8.3.
8.3.

The Department of Water and Sanitation should fast-track the process of filling the position of the Deputy Director General for Infrastructure Management 8.4.

As part of ensuring executive accountability and performing oversight, the Select Committee should align its quarterly programme in line with the 2023/2024 annual performance plan and budget allocation of the Department of Water and Sanitation.

6 69 8..5.
6 69 8..5.

The Department of Water and Sanitation should provide quarterly progress reports on achievements of outcome indicators as contained in the 2023/2024 annual performance plan and budget allocation 8.6.
The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements should undertake proactive oversight visits during the 2023 parliamentary third term to selected municipalities in Free State, Northern Cape and Limpopo Provinces in order to assess the state of water treatment plant, sanitation programmes, war on leaks programmes, water reticulation and turn- around time on water licencing.

Report to be considered 7 70 2.


Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture on Budget Vote 16: Basic Education, dated 31 May 2023 The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, having considered Budget Vote 16: Basic Education, reports as follows: 1.
Introduction The Department of Basic Education (the Department) derives its mandate from Sustainable Development Goal Number Four, National Development Plan, Action Plan to 2024 for Schooling 2030, and the Medium Term Strategic Framework, to shape its plans such as the Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plans.

The Bill of Rights, states that all South Africans have the right to basic education, including adult basic education and access to further education.
It further indicates that the state has an obligation, through reasonable measures, to progressively make education available and accessible.

The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture (the Committee) considered the Budget and the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP) of the Department of Basic Education (the Department) on Wednesday, 10 May 2023.
The budget review briefing served to acquaint the 6th Parliament Select Committee with the mandate, programmes and priorities of the Department.

This report gives a brief summary of the presentation made by the Department to the Committee, focusing mainly on the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and the 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) allocations.

The report also provides the Committee’s key deliberations and recommendations relating to Vote 16.

Page 1 71 2.
Page 1 71 2.

Summary of the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan The Department, in the five years (2019 to 2024) had planned to implement the following set of priorities, which are expressed as Medium Term Strategic Framework Outcomes: • Outcome 1: Improved system of policies, including the curriculum and assessment, governing the Basic Education Sector to advance a quality and inclusive, safe and healthy basic education system.
• Outcome 2: Improved information and other systems which enable transformation and an efficient and accountable sector.

• Outcome 3: Improved knowledge, monitoring and research functions to advance more evidence-driven planning, instruction and delivery.

• Outcome 4: Advanced development of innovative and high-quality educational materials.

• Outcome 5: Enhanced strategic interventions to assist and develop provincial education systems.
• Outcome 6: Improved communication of information and partnerships with stakeholders.

The 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP) represents the fifth year towards the achievements of objectives contained in the Department’s 2019 – 2024 Strategic Plan.

The presentation by the Department to the Committee outlined the Department's approach to the government-wide National Development Plan (NDP) and education sector priorities.
The intention was to ensure programme activities in the sector were aligned with medium and long-term goals.

The annual performance plan (APP) set out what the Department intended doing in the 2023/24 financial year and during the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, to implement its strategic plan.

Table 1 below is the summary of Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year.
2 72 Table 1: Summary of DBE Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.

of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme 1.

Administration 6 2.

Curriculum Policy, Support 31 and Monitoring 3.

Teachers, Education Human 11 Resources and 4.

Institutional Development 5.

Planning, Information and 15 Assessment 6.


Educational Enrichment 6 Services Total distribution 69 2 29 10 14 3 58 4 1 1 - 3 9 - 1 - - - 1 - - - 1 - 1 Percentage distribution 100% 84% 13% 1.4% 1.4% The above table presents a summary of indicators per programme for the DBE.

The DBE has a total of 69 indicators; distributed as follow: 58/69 indicators have annual targets (i.e.
84 per cent); 9/69 indicators have quarterly targets (13 per cent); 9/69 indicators have biennial/biannual targets (1 per cent); and 1/70 indicator have biennial/biannual targets (1 per cent).

3 73 3.

Budget of the Department 3.1.

Programmes Allocations over the 2023 MTEF The table below reflects the budget allocation for 2023/24 and over the medium term.
Table 2: Summary of the overall Budget allocation and medium-term estimates 2022/23 – 2025/26 R million MTEF allocation Administration 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Total Total Total Total Purpose: Provide strategic leadership, management and support services to the department.

564,2 538,8 564,8 587,4 Curriculum Policy, Support and Purpose: Develop and assessment policies, and monitor and curriculum Monitoring support their implementation.
Teachers, Education Purpose: Promote quality teaching and Human Resource and Institutional the institutional performance effective supply, development and use of through Development Planning, Information and Assessment Educational Enrichment Services human resources.

Purpose: Promote quality and effective service delivery in the basic education system through planning, implementation and assessment.
Purpose: Monitor and support provinces to implement care and support programmes 3 271,0 3 526,1 4 075,9 4 637,7 1 504,1 1 507,5 1 567,1 1 635,9 15 532,8 16 615,9 16 710,6 17 430,2 for learning and teaching.
8 821,1 9 594.4 10 108,0 10 637,5 Total expenditure estimates Source: National Treasury ENE (2023) 29 693,2 31 782,7 33 026,4 34 928,7 Table 2 shows an overview of the 2023/24 Budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Estimates: The DBE’s allocations increase at an average annual rate of 5.6 per cent, from R29.7 billion in 2022/23 to R34.9 billion in 2025/26.
Transfers and subsidies account for 84.9 per cent (R85.1 billion) of its allocation over the MTEF period, increasing at an average annual rate of 6.4 per cent, from R24.8 billion in 2022/23 to R29.9 billion in 2025/26.

4 74 3.2.
Economic Classifications Allocations over the 2023 MTEF Table 3: Budget Estimates under Economic Classification Economic Classification Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Compensation of 565,6 557,5 - 8,1 - 34,1 -1,43 per cent -6,04 per cent Employees Goods Services and 2 228,5 2 461,0 232,5 117,5 10,43 per cent 5,27 per cent Interest on rent and land 38,6 36,2 - 2,4 - 4,1 -6,22 per cent -10,60 per cent Transfers subsidies and 24 26 990,7 2 191,4 930,6 8,84 per cent 3,75 per cent 799,3 Payments capital assets Payments financial assets for 2 061,1 1 737,3 - 323,8 - 405,0 -15,71 per cent -19,65 per cent for 0,2 0,0 - 0,2 - 0,2 -100,00 per cent -100,00 per cent Total 29 693,2 31 782,7 2 089,4 604,8 7,04 per cent 2,04 per cent Table 3 shows the Departments overall budget allocation per economic classification.
The allocation shows an increase in budget from R29.6 billion in 202/23 to 31.7 billion in 2023/24, reflecting an increase 2 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The budget increases in Goods and Services as well as Transfers and Subsidies were higher than inflation.

There were reductions in budgets under Compensation of Employees, Interest on rent and land, Payments of capital assets, and payments for financial assets in both nominal and when inflation adjusted.
The majority allocation of R26.9 billion was towards transfers and subsidies, which is a nominal change of 8.8 per cent or 3.7 per cent when inflation adjusted, from 2022/23 financial year.

The highest nominal increase was in goods and services from R2.2 million to R2.4 million, which was a 10.4 per cent nominal change and 5.3 per cent inflation adjusted change.

4.

Budgetary allocations per programme 4.1.


Programme 1: Administration This programme plays an important role in giving effect to first priority of the NDP, that is, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

This priority is also expressed in the MTSF for 5 75 the five-year term 2019-2024, as a crucial mode that is required to achieve Vision 2030.
This includes capacity-building programmes for the financial year 2023/24 that will target officials who have identified training programmes for their professional development as well as officials who have identified programmes to assist them in addressing skills needs and competencies required to deliver the outcomes of the Department.
Table 4: Programme 1 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Real Rand change Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 1: Ministry 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 35,9 35,8 - 0,1 - 1,8 -0,28 per cent -4,94 per 2: Management 96,2 96,2 0,0 - 4,5 0,00 per cent 3: Corporate Services 96,6 76,8 - 19,8 - 23,4 -20,50 per cent 4: Office of the Chief Financial Officer 5: Internal Audit 92,3 87,1 - 5,2 - 9,3 -5,63 per cent 11,7 9,9 - 1,8 - 2,3 -15,38 per cent 6: Office Accommodation 231,5 233,0 1,5 - 9,4 0,65 per cent TOTAL 564,2 538,8 - 25,4 - 50,6 -4,50 per cent cent -4,67 per cent -24,21 per cent -10,04 per cent -19,34 per cent -4,05 per cent -8,96 per cent Table 4 shows the budget allocation in programme 1.
There is an overall decrease from in budget from R546.2 million to R538.8 million, with is a nominal 4.5 per cent decrease or 8.9 per cent when inflation adjusted.

Majority of the budget of R233 million is allocated towards office accommodation, which is a slight increase in nominal terms, but a decrease when inflation adjusted.

There in a decrease in budget allocation from the previous year in all the sub-programmes when inflation in factored into the allocation.
The highest decrease is in corporate services, which the decrease if from 96.6 million in 2022/23 to 76.8 million in 2023/24, reflecting a 24.2 per cent decrease in real terms.

The Department stated that the filling of critical posts will be impacted by the lower budget allocation due to the shrinking allocations on the Compensation of Employees budget and economic circumstances.

6 76 4.2.
6 76 4.2.

Programme 2: Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring Programme Objectives: • Increase the number of learners who complete grade 12 by providing the Second Chance Matric programme for learners who failed to meet the National Senior Certificate and the Senior Certificate (amended) requirements annually.
• Improve the learning and teaching of critical foundational skills by developing, printing and distributing two (2) volumes of workbooks for Grade R, Grades 1 to 6 Literacy/Languages, Grades 1 to 3 Life Skills (quintile 1 to quintile 3), Grades 1 to 9 Numeracy/ Mathematics, and Grades 1 to 6 English First Additional Language to all learners in public schools annually.
• Improve learners’ reading proficiency in the Foundation Phase in all underperforming rural and township schools by using the early grade reading assessment toolkit to assess learners’ reading levels by 2023/24.

This includes phonic knowledge, word recognition, and fluency and comprehension skills in the early grades.
• Fast track the rollout and implementation of ICT in schools by providing teacher training, ICT devices, digital content, software, connectivity, IT support to schools, and online learner and teacher support materials annually.
• Increase learner participation and success rates in Mathematics, Science and Technology by providing ICT equipment, machinery, subject specific resources and teacher development to schools each year over the medium-term by: o providing 485 schools, including those in the coding and robotics pilot project, with subject specific computer hardware and related software in accordance with the minimum specifications prescribed by the curriculum assessment policy statement; o repairing, maintaining or replacing workshop equipment and machinery for technology subjects at 232 technical schools; o providing 232 schools with funds for the maintenance of equipment and machinery; o providing 1 256 schools with laboratory equipment, apparatus and consumables, including manipulatives for Mathematics; 7 77 o supporting 50 000 learners in co‐curricular services related to Mathematics, science and technology; o supporting 1 500 teachers and subject advisers in curriculum assessment policy statement training; and o supporting 1 000 teachers in structured teacher development programmes specific to Mathematics, science and technology.
Table 5: Programme 2 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand Nominal per Real per cent change cent change change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 3,0 2,0 - 1,0 - 1,1 -33,33 per cent -36,45 per cent Programme 1: Management: Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring 2: Curriculum 1 586,3 1 828,1 241,8 156,4 15,24 per cent 9,86 per cent Implementation and Monitoring 3: Curriculum and Quality Enhancement Programmes TOTAL 1 681,8 1 696,1 14,3 - 64,9 0,85 per cent -3,86 per cent 3 271,1 3 526,2 255,1 90,4 7,80 per cent 2,76 per cent Table 5 shows the budget allocation for programme two.
There is an overall increase in the budget from R3.2 billion in 2022/23 to R3.5 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 7.8 per cent and 2.8 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The highest increase was in sub-programme two of curriculum implementation and monitoring, which increased from 1.5 billion in 2022/23 to 1.8 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 15.2 per cent and 9.9 per cent inflation adjusted.
There was a significant decrease in sub-programme one of programme management: Curriculum, support, and monitoring, decreasing from R3 million to R 2 million, representing a nominal decrease of 33.3 per cent and 36.5 per cent when inflation adjusted.

This decrease may compromise the monitoring and evaluation function in the programme.

8 78 4.3.
8 78 4.3.

Programme 3: Teachers, Education Human Resource and Institutional Development Programme Objectives: • Ensure an adequate supply of qualified teachers by securing 4 500 posts for Funza Lushaka bursary holders by June of the year after qualifying each year over the medium-term.

• Improve the quality of teaching and learning by ensuring an adequate supply of young and qualified teachers through awarding 36 400 Funza Lushaka bursaries to prospective teachers over the medium-term.
• Improve the quality of teaching and learning by monitoring and supporting the implementation of the policy on educator post-provisioning in all provincial education departments annually.

• Strengthen accountability by monitoring and supporting the implementation of educator performance management systems and school evaluations annually.
Table 6: Programme 3 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme 1: Management: Teachers, Education Human Resources Institutional and Development 2: Education Human Resources Management 2,6 2,6 0,0 - 0,1 0,00 per cent -4,67 per cent 68,9 71,8 2,9 - 0,5 4,21 per cent -0,66 per cent 3: Education Human 1 414,1 1 415,6 1,5 - 64,6 0,11 per -4,57 per cent Resources Development 4: Curriculum and Professional Development Unit 18,5 17,5 - 1,0 - 1,8 TOTAL 1 504,1 1 507,5 3,4 - 67,0 cent -5,41 per cent -9,82 per cent 0,23 per cent -4,46 per cent 9 79 Table 6 shows the budget allocation for programme three.
There is an overall slight change in the budget, but no real increase.

The budget only shows a nominal increase of 0.2 per cent and a decrease by 4.5 per cent when inflation adjusted.

There is a decrease in buying power in all the sub-programmes because the budget allocation from 2022/23 to 2023/24 in not in line with inflation, but below the inflation margin.

4.4.
4.4.

Programme 4: Planning, Information and Assessment Programme objectives: • Improve the delivery of school infrastructure over the medium-term by providing oversight and support to provinces through quarterly reporting on schools’ furniture needs and deliveries, the national education infrastructure management system, and the education infrastructure grant.
• Contribute to enhanced teaching and learning by improving and upgrading infrastructure by March 2024 by: o building nine (9) schools to replace unsafe structures; o providing water to one (1) school; o providing sanitation to 350 schools.

• Track improvements in the quality of teaching and learning by providing standardised national assessments for grade 3, grade 6 and grade 9 learners and administering credible public examinations for grade 12 learners each year over the medium-term.
• Strengthen the capacity of district offices on an ongoing basis to support schools through quarterly provincial visits that monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on curriculum oversight, institutional management, the provision of governance support and human resource management operations.
10 80 Table 7: Programme 4 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Nominal Rand Real Rand Nominal per Real per Budget change change cent change cent change 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 3,9 4,3 0,4 0,2 10,26 per cent 5,11 per cent 52,1 53,0 0,9 - 1,6 1,73 per cent -3,02 per cent Sub-programme R million 1: Programme Management: Planning, Information and Assessment 2: Financial Planning, Information and Management Systems 3: School Infrastructure 14 915,8 15 961,8 1 046,0 300,4 7,01 per cent 2,01 per cent 4: National Assessments and Public Examinations 5: National Education and Evaluation Development Unit 378,1 427,9 49,8 29,8 13,17 per cent 7,88 per cent 15,4 17,3 1,9 1,1 12,34 per cent 7,09 per cent 6: Planning and Delivery 167,4 151,6 - 15,8 - 22,9 -9,44 per cent -13,67 per Oversight Unit TOTAL 15 532,7 16 615,9 1 083,2 307,1 6,97 per cent 1,98 per cent cent Table 7 shows the budget allocation for programme four.
There is an overall increase in the budget from R15.5 billion in 2022/23 to R16.6 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 7 per cent and 2 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The highest increase was in sub-programme four of national assessments and public examinations, which increased from R378.1 million in 2022/23 to R427 million in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 13.2 per cent and 7.9 per cent inflation adjusted.
There was a significant decrease in sub-programme six of planning and delivery oversight unit, decreasing from R167.4 million to R151.6 million, representing a nominal decrease of 9.4 per cent and 13.7 per cent when inflation adjusted.

This decrease may compromise the monitoring and evaluation function in the programme.

This sub-programme works with provinces to ensure that provincial initiatives are aligned with national priorities, and provides institutional support for their effective delivery.
The risk in reduction in budget could compromise the alignment of provincial initiatives from national priorities.

11 81 4.5.

Programme 5: Educational Enrichment Services Programme Objectives: • Ensure the holistic development of learners, enhance their learning experience, and maximise their school performance by implementing sport, safety and social cohesion programmes to reduce barriers to learning each year over the medium-term.
• Improve learner health and wellness by implementing school health programmes, including the provision of nutritious meals, to all learners in quintiles 1 to 3 primary, secondary and identified special schools annually.

• Mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS, and TB by providing a caring, supportive and enabling environment for learners and educators annually.
Table 8: Programme 5 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1: Programme 4,2 3,7 - 0,5 - 0,7 -11,90 per -16,02 per Management: Educational Enrichment Services cent cent 2: Partnerships Education in 34,2 36,9 2,7 1,0 7,89 per cent 2,85 per cent 3: Care and Support in Schools 8 782,7 9 553,7 771,0 324,7 8,78 per cent 3,70 per cent TOTAL 8 821,1 9 594,3 773,2 325,0 8,77 per cent 3,68 per cent Table 8 shows the budget allocation for programme five.
There is an overall increase in the budget from R8.8 billion in 2022/23 to R9.6 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 8.8 per cent and 3.7 per cent when inflation adjusted.

About 99 per cent of the budget is allocated to sub- programme three of care and support in school.
The highest increase was in sub-programme three of care and support in schools, which increased from R8.7 billion in 2022/23 to R9.5 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 8.7 per cent and 3.7 per cent inflation adjusted.
There was a significant decrease in sub-programme one of Programme Management: Educational 12 82 Enrichment Services, decreasing from R4.2 million in 2022/23 to R3.7 million in 2023/24, representing a nominal decrease of 11.9 per cent and 16 per cent when inflation adjusted.

5.
Details of Conditional Grants Allocations/Transfers (R’000) over the 2023 MTEF Table 9: Allocation to Conditional Grants 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million Learner with Profound Intellectual Disabilities Early Childhood Development Grant Maths, Science and Technology Grant 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 255,5 260,4 4,9 - 7,3 1,92 per cent -2,84 per cent 1 192,6 1 242,4 49,8 - 8,2 4,18 per cent -0,69 per cent 424,7 433,0 8,3 - 11,9 1,95 per cent -2,81 per cent Education Infrastructure 12 500,8 13 872,4 1 371,6 723,6 10,97 per cent 5,79 per cent 242,2 241,6 - 0,6 - 11,9 -0,25 per cent -4,91 per cent 8 508,3 9 278,9 770,6 337,2 9,06 per cent 3,96 per cent Grant HIV and AIDS life skills Educators Grant National School Nutrition Programme Grant TOTAL 23 124,1 25 328,7 2 204,6 1 021,5 9,53 per cent 4,42 per cent Table 9 shows the budget allocation for conditional grants.
There is an overall increase conditional grants from R23.1 billion in 2022/23 to R25.3 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 9.5 per cent and 4.4 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The allocations in five conditional grants namely, learner with profound intellectual disabilities, early childhood development grant, maths, science, and technology grant, HIV and AIDS life skills educators grant are below inflation, which ultimately means less buying power from the previous year.
The only grants that had an allocation higher than inflation were the Education infrastructure grant and the National school nutrition programme grant.

The Education infrastructure grant increased from R12.5 billion in 2022/23 to R13.9 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 11 per cent and 5.8 per cent when inflation adjusted.
The national school nutrition programme grant increased from R8.5 billion in 13 83 2022/23 to R9.3 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 9 per cent and 4 per cent when inflation adjusted.

Both the Education infrastructure grant and the National school nutrition programme grant make up 91 per cent of total conditional grant budget of the Department of Basic Education.

6.
Transfers to Entities Table 10: Transfers to the DBE Entities 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 1: Umalusi 2: South African for Council Educators TOTAL 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 187,7 123,0 197,4 114,1 9,7 - 8,9 0,5 5,17 per cent 0,26 per cent - 14,2 -7,24 per cent -11,57 per cent 310,7 311,5 0,8 - 13,8 0,26 per cent -4,43 per cent Table 10 shows the budget transfers to the Departmental entities.
There is very little increase allocation the Departments entities, showing an overall increase from R310.7 million in 2022/23 to R311.5 million in 2023/24, grants from which is a nominal increase of 0.2 per cent and a decrease of 4.4 per cent when inflation adjusted.

Umalusi received the highest increase in budget from R187.7 million in 2022/23 to R197.4 million in 2023/24, which represents a nominal increase of 5.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent when inflation adjusted.
However, the budget allocation for the South African Council for Educators (SACE) significantly decreases from R123 million in 2022/23 to R114.1 million in 2023/24, representing a nominal decrease of 7.2 per cent and 11.6 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The below inflation budget for SACE means that the entity will have less purchasing power and may have to implement austerity measures.

7.

Budget votes of provincial Departments of Education 7.1.
Overview of Provinces by DBE • All provinces and districts will continue to encourage learners to enrol in the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) to improve their chances of life.

14 84 • In the coming year, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) will look at implanting Phase IV of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) in Provincial Education Departments (PEDs).

The programme is looking at creating about 255 000 job opportunities for the youth residing at a location of the schools.
This programme will generate employment opportunities in the local areas of the schools.

The programme has created more than 850 000 job opportunities in more than 20 000 schools across all PEDs.

• The District Development Model (DDM) is a crucial intervention to ensure that Government does not work in silos and is committed to improving people’s lives.

The Basic Education Sector will be able to address challenges relating to school infrastructure, curriculum coverage and learner safety.
• Statistics indicate that Early and Unintended Pregnancy (EUP) is a reality in our schools, and across all provinces, especially in the Gauteng Province.

Dialogue discussions on this topic will take place openly and honestly, with a focus on contributing factors such as poverty, gender inequalities, gendered expectations for the two sexes, poor access to contraceptives and open sexuality education.
• In total, 4000 learners, educators, parents, School Governing Body Association members and other education stakeholders are targeted to be reached through social cohesion programmes, and 900 professionals will be trained in the South African School Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) programmes.

• ECD migration, especially systems and processes required to raise the quality and standard of learning to which the youngest members of our communities are exposed.
• We continue to work with provinces to improve awareness and vaccination rates through the in-school vaccination programme, which requires consent forms to be signed by parents.

• Over the last few years, the Department of Basic Education has been actively building evidence about what works to improve the teaching and learning of Reading through the Early-Grade Reading Study (EGRS).
The DBE is currently conducting an impact evaluation of another intervention where Foundation Phase Heads of Department (HoDs) are being supported to play the role of an internal coach.

By early 2024, this evaluation should indicate whether HoD-led coaching has the potential to be a cost-effective alternative to on-site coaching.
15 85 From the above, it is concluded that from a provincial perspective, the DBE highlights projects such as the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), the District Development Model (DDM), Early and Unintended Pregnancy (EUP), social cohesion programmes, the South African School Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) programmes, ECD migration, the in-school vaccination programme, and the Early-Grade Reading Study (EGRS).
These will be focused on under the section titled ‘Issues for Consideration’.

7.2.

Programmes of the Provincial Departments Programme 1: Administration.

This is to provide for the overall management of the education system in accordance with the National Education Policy Act., the Public Finance Management Act, and other policies.
Programme 1 includes publicly funded goods and services, in particular teachers, non-teachers and office items, utilized for governance, management, research and administration, as well as general office services, e.g.

cleaning and security services, if utilized in the provincial head office and its subsidiary district and circuit offices.

Programme 2: Public Ordinary Schools.


This is to provide public ordinary education from Grade 1 to 12, in accordance with the South African Schools Act and White Paper 6 on inclusive education.

(E-learning is also included) Programme 3: Independent Schools.

This is to support independent schools in accordance with the South African Schools Act as enshrined in the Norms and Standards for School Funding Regulations.

Programme 4: Public Special Schools Education.


This is to provide compulsory public education in special schools in accordance with the South African Schools Act and White Paper 6 on inclusive education.

Including E-learning and inclusive education.

Programme 5: Early Childhood Development.

This is to provide Early Childhood Education (ECD) at the Grade R and pre-grade R in accordance with White Paper 5 (E-learning is also included) 16 86 Programme 6: Infrastructure Development.
This is to provide and maintain school infrastructure facilities through infrastructure programmes in support of teaching and learning at schools.

The aim is to ensure that the school infrastructure is in compliance to the Regulations Relating to the Minimum Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.

Programme 7: Examination and Education Related Services.

This is to provide the education institutions as a whole with examination and education related services.

7.3.
7.3.

Eastern Cape Table 11: Summary of the Eastern Cape Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 6 Public Ordinary School 12 Education Independent school subsidies 3 Public special school education 3 Early Childhood Development 4 Infrastructure Development 10 Examination and education 5 specific activities Total distribution 43 5 12 2 2 2 10 5 38 1 - 1 1 2 - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17 87 Percentage distribution 100% 88% 12% - - Table 11 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Eastern Cape ED.
The Department has a total of 43 indicators distributed as follows: 38 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

88 per cent); 5 indicators have quarterly targets (12 per cent).
Table 12: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Budget 2022/23 2 961,8 2023/24 2 970,5 Nominal Real Rand change Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 8,7 - 130,1 0,29 per cent -4,39 per cent Public Ordinary School 31 007,9 32 453,7 1 445,8 - 70,1 4,66 per cent -0,23 per Education cent Independent school 157,8 110,3 - 47,5 - 52,7 -30,10 per -33,37 per subsidies cent cent Public special school 1 049,9 1 118,7 68,8 16,5 6,55 per cent 1,58 per cent education Early Childhood 1 014,9 1 062,2 47,3 - 2,3 4,66 per cent 2 054,8 1 829,3 - 225,5 - 310,9 -10,97 per cent -15,13 per cent Examination and 1 548,6 1 583,3 34,7 - 39,3 2,24 per cent -0,23 per cent -2,54 per cent Development Infrastructure Development education specific activities TOTAL 39 795,7 41 128,0 1 332,3 - 588,8 3,35 per cent -1,48 per cent The 2023/24 budget allocation increased by 3.3 per cent from R39.8 billion in 2022/23 to R41.1 billion.
However there in a decline of 1.5 per cent in the overall budget allocation when adjusted according to inflation.

The programme with the highest increase in budget is programme four of Public special school Education which shows a nominal increase by 6.5 per cent and 1.6 per cent when inflation adjusted.

This is the only programme which the budget is in-line with inflation.

18 88 7.4.
18 88 7.4.

Free state Department of Education Table 13: Summary of the Free State Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 9 Public Ordinary School 28 Education Independent school subsidies 3 Public special school education 4 Early Childhood Development 6 Infrastructure Development 6 Examination and education 10 specific activities Total distribution 66 6 28 2 3 6 6 10 61 3 - 1 1 - - - 5 Percentage distribution 100% 92% 8% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 13 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Free State ED.
The Department has a total of 66 indicators distributed as follows: 61 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

92 per cent); 5 indicators have quarterly targets (8 per cent).
19 89 -11,50 per cent -4,51 per cent Table 14: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1 288,3 1 196,0 - 92,3 - 148,2 -7,16 per cent Public Ordinary School 12 728,9 12 750,2 21,3 - 574,3 0,17 per cent Education Independent school 111,0 125,8 14,8 8,9 13,33 per cent 8,04 per cent subsidies Public special school 682,7 670,7 - 12,0 - 43,3 -1,76 per cent -6,35 per education cent Early Childhood 640,0 621,6 - 18,4 - 47,4 -2,88 per cent -7,41 per Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 1 081,7 1 027,6 - 54,1 - 102,1 -5,00 per cent -9,44 per cent 1 138,4 1 165,9 27,5 - 27,0 2,42 per cent 17 671,0 17 557,8 - 113,2 - 933,3 -0,64 per cent cent -2,37 per cent -5,28 per cent Table 14 shows the overall budget allocation for the Free State Department of Education.
The 2023/24 overall budget allocation decreased from R17.6 billion to R17.5 billion, or 0.64 per cent in nominal terms and 5.3 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is below inflation in all the programmes except programme three of independent school subsidies, which is the only one with above inflation increment.

One of the concerning areas is a decrease in the infrastructure development budget which was decreased by 9.4 per cent when inflation adjusted.
This could have a negative impact on the much needed infrastructure development and maintenance in schools.

20 90 7.5.

Gauteng Department of Education Table 15: Summary of the Gauteng Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 5 Public Ordinary School 13 Education Independent school subsidies 2 Public special school education 3 Early Childhood Development 5 Infrastructure Development 6 Examination and education 9 specific activities 3 13 2 2 5 6 9 Total distribution 43 40 2 - - 1 - - - 3 Percentage distribution 100% 93% 7% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 15 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Gauteng ED.
The Department has a total of 43 indicators distributed as follows: 40 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

93 per cent); 3 indicators have quarterly targets (7 per cent).
21 91 Table 16: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Nominal Rand Real Rand Nominal per Real per Programme R million Administration Budget change change cent change cent change 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 5 012,4 5 111,6 99,2 - 139,6 1,98 per cent -2,78 per cent Public Ordinary School 42 324,2 44 552,5 2 228,3 147,2 5,26 per cent 0,35 per cent Education Independent school 1 026,8 1 038,8 12,0 - 36,5 1,17 per cent -3,56 per cent subsidies Public special school 4 893,1 5 249,1 356,0 110,8 7,28 per cent 2,26 per cent education Early Childhood 1 979,3 2 329,3 350,0 241,2 17,68 per cent 12,19 per Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 1 735,5 2 460,7 725,2 610,3 41,79 per cent 35,16 per cent 2 764,4 2 679,4 - 85,0 - 210,2 -3,07 per cent -7,60 per cent cent 59 735,7 63 421,4 3 685,7 723,2 6,17 per cent 1,21 per cent Table 16 shows the overall budget allocation for the Gauteng Department of Education.
The 2023/24 overall budget allocation increased from R59.7 billion to R63.4 billion, or 6.2 per cent in nominal terms and 1.2 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is in line with inflation except programme one, three, and seven.

The highest budget increase is in programme six of infrastructure development which increased from R1.7 billion to R2.4 billion, representing a 41.8 per cent increase and 35.2 per cent increase when inflation adjusted.

22 92 7.6.
22 92 7.6.

Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Education Table 17: Summary of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 5 Public Ordinary School 12 Education Independent school subsidies 2 Public special school education 4 Early Childhood Development 4 Infrastructure Development 9 Examination and education 6 specific activities 3 1 2 4 4 9 6 Total distribution 43 41 Percentage distribution 100% 95% 2 - - - - - - 2 5% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 17 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Kwa-Zulu Natal ED.
The Department has a total of 43 indicators distributed as follows: 41 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

95 per cent); 2 indicators have quarterly targets (5 per cent).
23 93 Table 18: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2 291,6 2 282,3 - 9,3 - 115,9 -0,41 per cent -5,06 per cent Public Ordinary School 45 877,8 48 194,4 2 316,6 65,4 5,05 per cent 0,14 per cent Education Independent school 95,7 95,7 0,0 - 4,5 0,00 per cent subsidies -4,67 per cent Public special school 1 420,7 1 602,2 181,5 106,7 12,78 per cent 7,51 per cent education Early Childhood 1 930,2 2 005,0 74,8 - 18,9 3,88 per cent Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 2 700,8 3 205,6 504,8 355,1 18,69 per cent 3 163,7 3 251,9 88,2 - 63,7 2,79 per cent -2,01 per cent 57 480,5 60 637,1 3 156,6 324,2 5,49 per cent 0,56 per cent -0,98 per cent 13,15 per cent Table 18 shows the overall budget allocation for the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Education.
The 2023/24 overall budget allocation increased from R57.4 billion to R60.6 billion, or 5.5 per cent in nominal terms and 0.56 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is below inflation in programme one, three, five, and seven.

The highest budget increase is in programme six of infrastructure development which increased from R2.7 billion to R3.2 billion, representing an 18.7 per cent increase and 13.2 per cent increase when inflation adjusted.

24 94 7.7.
24 94 7.7.

North West Department of Education Table 19: Summary of North West Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 13 Public Ordinary School 25 Education Independent school subsidies 4 Public special school education 8 Early Childhood Development 6 Infrastructure Development 14 Examination and education 12 specific activities 10 15 3 6 4 14 12 3 10 1 1 2 - - Total distribution 82 64 17 - - - 1 - - - 1 Percentage distribution 100% 78% 21% 1% - - - - - - - - - Table 19 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the North West ED.
The Department has a total of 82 indicators distributed as follows: 64 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

78 per cent); 17 indicators have quarterly targets (21 per cent); and one indicator has a Bi-Annual target (1 per cent).
25 95 Table 20: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1 026,2 981,9 - 44,3 - 90,2 -4,32 per cent Public Ordinary School 15 329,7 15 021,8 - 307,9 - 1 009,6 -2,01 per cent Education Independent school 38,6 50,8 12,2 9,8 31,61 per cent subsidies Public special school 862,9 904,9 42,0 - 0,3 4,87 per cent education Early Childhood 984,3 979,2 - 5,1 - 50,8 -0,52 per cent Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 1 242,2 1 297,5 55,3 - 5,3 4,45 per cent 1 295,0 1 339,2 44,2 - 18,4 3,41 per cent -1,42 per cent 20 778,9 20 575,3 - 203,6 - 1 164,7 -0,98 per cent -5,61 per cent -8,79 per cent -6,59 per cent 25,46 per cent -0,03 per cent -5,17 per cent -0,43 per cent Table 20 shows the overall budget allocation for the North West Department of Education.
The 2023/24 overall budget allocation decreased from R20.7 billion to R20.5 billion, or 0.98 per cent decrease in nominal terms and 5.6 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is below inflation in all programmes except programme three of independent schools.

The highest budget increase is in programme three which increased from R38.6 million to R50.8 million, representing a 31.6 per cent increase and 25.5 per cent increase when inflation adjusted.

26 96 7.8.
26 96 7.8.

Mpumalanga Department of Education Table 21: Summary of Mpumalanga Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 9 Public Ordinary School 16 Education Independent school subsidies 3 Public special school education 5 Early Childhood Development 7 Infrastructure Development 11 Examination and education 10 specific activities Total distribution 61 7 14 2 3 5 11 10 52 2 2 1 2 2 - - 9 Percentage distribution 100% 85% 15% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 21 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Mpumalanga ED.
The Department has a total of 61 indicators distributed as follows: 52 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

85 per cent); 9 indicators have quarterly targets (15 per cent).
27 97 Table 22: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1 500,5 1 404,7 - 95,8 - 161,4 -6,38 per cent Public Ordinary School 19 743,5 19 977,1 233,6 - 699,6 1,18 per cent Education Independent school 23,2 23,3 0,1 - 1,0 0,43 per cent subsidies Public special school 445,3 453,5 8,2 - 13,0 1,84 per cent education Early Childhood 922,7 874,4 - 48,3 - 89,1 -5,23 per cent Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 1 206,2 1 206,6 0,4 - 56,0 0,03 per cent 1 021,9 981,1 - 40,8 - 86,6 -3,99 per cent -8,48 per cent 24 863,3 24 920,7 57,4 - 1 106,7 0,23 per cent -4,45 per cent -10,76 per cent -3,54 per cent -4,26 per cent -2,92 per cent -9,66 per cent -4,64 per cent Table 22 shows the overall budget allocation for the Mpumalanga Department of Education which slightly increased from R24.8 billion in 2022/23 to R24.9 billion in 2023/24.
Therefore, there was no significant increase in the 2023/24 allocation from the previous year, resulting in a nominal increase of 0.23 per cent, but a 4.5 per cent decrease when inflation adjusted.

There was a decrease in budget allocation in all programmes when adjusted in accordance with inflation.

A concerning areas was a 5.2 nominal (9.7 inflation adjusted) decrease in programme four of Early Childhood Development moving from R922.7 million in 2022/23 to R874.4 million in 2023/24.
This could have a negative impact on the support for ECD centers post-migration form Social Development.

28 98 7.9.

Northern Cape Department of Education Table 23: Summary of Northern Cape Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 3 Public Ordinary School 11 Education Independent school subsidies 1 Public special school education 2 Early Childhood Development 3 Infrastructure Development 8 Examination and education 5 specific activities 3 10 1 2 3 8 5 - 1 - - - - - Total distribution 33 32 1 Percentage distribution 100% 97% 3% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 23 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Northern Cape ED.
The Department has a total of 33 indicators distributed as follows: 32 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

97 per cent); one indicator has quarterly targets (3 per cent).
29 99 Table 24: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 734,5 770,7 0,2 4,93 per cent 0,03 per cent 36,2 73,9 - 197,9 1,29 per cent Programme R million Administration Public Ordinary School 5 744,5 5 818,4 Education Independent school 11,7 11,5 - 0,2 - 0,7 -1,71 per cent subsidies Public special school 183,8 190,3 6,5 - 2,4 3,54 per cent education Early Childhood 208,8 207,2 - 1,6 - 11,3 -0,77 per cent -3,44 per cent -6,30 per cent -1,30 per cent -5,40 per cent Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 686,9 717,2 30,3 - 3,2 4,41 per cent -0,47 per cent 361,6 352,1 - 9,5 - 25,9 -2,63 per cent -7,18 per 7 931,8 8 067,4 135,6 - 241,2 1,71 per cent cent -3,04 per cent Table 24 shows the overall budget allocation for the Northern Cape Department of Education.
The overall budget allocation increased from R7.9 billion in 2022/23 to R8 billion in 2023/24, representing a 1.7 per cent increase in nominal terms, but a 3 per cent decrease when adjusted in accordance with inflation.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is below inflation in all programmes except programme one of administration.

This means that the Department will have overall less buying power.

30 100 7.10.
30 100 7.10.

Western Cape Department of Education Table 25: Summary of Western Cape Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 11 Public Ordinary School 11 Education Independent school subsidies 3 Public special school education 5 Early Childhood Development 4 Infrastructure Development 13 Examination and education 16 specific activities Total distribution 63 9 11 2 4 3 13 16 58 2 - 1 1 1 - - 5 Percentage distribution 100% 92% 8% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 25 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Western Cape ED.
The Department has a total of 63 indicators distributed as follows: 58 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

92 per cent); 5 indicators have quarterly targets (8 per cent).
31 101 Table 26: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Administration Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1 499,5 1 657,5 158,0 80,6 10,54 per cent 5,37 per cent Public Ordinary School 19 910,6 20 640,7 730,1 - 234,1 3,67 per cent Education -1,18 per cent Independent school 144,9 152,3 7,4 0,3 5,11 per cent 0,20 per cent subsidies Public special school 1 486,6 1 599,1 112,5 37,8 7,57 per cent 2,54 per cent education Early Childhood 964,6 1 088,6 124,0 73,2 12,86 per cent 7,58 per cent Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities TOTAL 2 538,7 2 930,3 391,6 254,7 15,43 per cent 10,03 per cent 1 620,9 1 479,7 - 141,2 - 210,3 -8,71 per cent -12,98 per cent 28 165,8 29 548,2 1 382,4 2,2 4,91 per cent 0,01 per cent Table 26 shows the overall budget allocation for the Western Cape Department of Education.
The overall budget allocation increased from R28.2 billion in 2022/23 to R29.5 billion in 2023/24, representing a 4.9 per cent increase in nominal terms and a 0.01 per cent increase when adjusted in accordance with inflation.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is inline inflation in all programmes except programme two and programme seven.
The highest increase in budget allocation was in programme five of Early Childhood Development which increased from R964.6 million to R1.1 billion, representing a nominal increase of 12.9 per cent and 7.6 per cent when inflation adjusted.

32 102 7.11.

Limpopo Department of Education Table 27: Summary of Limpopo Department of Education Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.
of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme Administration 4 Public Ordinary School 15 Education Independent school subsidies 2 Public special school education 2 Early Childhood Development 4 Infrastructure Development 7 Examination and education 7 specific activities 4 15 1 2 4 7 7 Total distribution 41 40 - - 1 - - - - 1 Percentage distribution 100% 98% 2%- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Table 27 presents a summary of indicators per programme for the Limpopo ED.
The Department has a total of 41 indicators distributed as follows: 40 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

98 per cent); one indicator has quarterly targets (2 per cent).
33 103 Table 28: Summary of the overall Budget allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme R million Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change Budget 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Administration 1 947,2 2 027,8 80,6 - 14,1 4,14 per cent Public Ordinary School 30 510,9 31 434,9 924,0 - 544,4 3,03 per cent Education Independent school subsidies Public special school education Early Childhood Development Infrastructure Development Examination and education specific activities 153,5 160,3 6,8 - 0,7 4,43 per cent 610,6 662,3 51,7 20,8 8,47 per cent 3,40 per cent 690,3 676,9 - 13,4 - 45,0 -1,94 per cent 1 607,4 1 486,5 - 120,9 - 190,3 -7,52 per cent -6,52 per cent -11,84 per cent 2 106,9 1 739,7 - 367,2 - 448,5 -17,43 per -21,29 per cent cent -0,73 per cent -1,78 per cent -0,45 per cent TOTAL 37 626,8 38 188,4 561,6 - 1 222,2 1,49 per cent -3,25 per cent Table 28 shows the overall budget allocation for the Limpopo Department of Education.
The overall budget allocation increased from R37.6 billion in 2022/23 to R38.2 billion in 2023/24, representing a 1.5 per cent increase in nominal terms, but a 3.3 per cent decrease when adjusted in accordance with inflation.

The budget allocation for 2023/24 is below inflation in all programmes except programme four of public special school education.
The highest increase in budget allocation was in programme four which increased from R610.6 million to R662.3 million, representing a nominal increase of 8.5 per cent and 3.4 per cent when inflation adjusted.

8.

Committee Deliberations on APP and Budget 8.1.


Committee Observations on National Department of Basic Education (DBE) The Committee, having considered and deliberated on the Annual Performance Plans 2023/24 of the Department of Basic Education made the following key observations and findings: 34 104 • Members requested the National Department to provide an update on the plans to eradicate unsafe pit latrines in schools at national level.
• Members requested the unique national initiatives linked to the delivery of ICT infrastructure and internet access within schools.

• Members enquired an update on the building of nine new schools under the ASIDI grant.

• Members wanted detailed information on the SAFE projects nationally, and the monitoring and evaluation thereof.
• Members wanted to know whether the department is attending the parliamentary public hearings on the Basic Education Amendment Bill (BELA), and how are they dealing with negative connotations from the communities.

• Members were concerned over lack of PPE provided to food handlers working in the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
• In its APP, the Department envisaged the provision of health and psychosocial facilities for all children including learners with mental health or substance abuse problems.

The members wanted to know how much budget was required to achieve this, what was the involvement government agencies interested in making this a reality in the current financial year.

8.2.
8.2.

Committee Observations on provincial Education Departments • Members noted that the Eastern Cape ED would continue to prioritise the rationalisation and realignment of viable schools for optimum resource distribution, through the densification of schools for enhanced and effective school management that would result in improved learning outcomes.
They enquired on the challenges and successes experienced with the support programme to viable schools, and how viable schools were chosen for the support package.

• Members requested the Eastern Cape ED to elaborate on more on their plans to reprioritise their budget in 2023/24 to enable infrastructure development, as it relates to the backlog in the eradication of pit-latrines and provision for better sanitation in schools.

The question on plans to eradicate pit-latrines was extended to all provinces.
35 105 • Referring to the training and development as highlighted in the budget policy statement on education in the Eastern Cape, members requested the Department elaborate on the quality and training types that would be provided.

Members also wanted to ascertain whether the Department had any partnerships with tertiary institutions on ECD practitioner training as well as trainings intended for Educators.
• Members requested information about the “Second Chance Matric Programme” that allowed learners to rewrite their matric exams.

They indicated that there were instances where students had complained about being barred from rewriting their exams on the basis of their age and a whole host of other reasons and requested that the Department provide information on how it would address this matter.

• Members enquired about the progress of ECD migration from Social Development to the Department of Education.
Concerns were raised that ECD centers do not offer formal educational instructions that would develop young minds and preparing them to be future productive citizens.

Therefore, it requested the Departments indicate what system re-design would allow ECD learners to be easily integrated into the formal education system.

Members also requested more information on the training and upskilling of ECD practitioners.
Members also wanted to know if careful consideration was taken into ensuring that ECD centers are disability friendly.

• Members referred to non-performing schools across the country and the value they brought to society, since they had not recorded any matric passes.

It would have been better if these schools had recorded underperformance, as opposed to non- performance.
What had the Department done to upskill teachers and assist the school governing bodies (SGBs) in dealing with the worrying trend of non-performance?

• Members wanted to know how schools in Gauteng performed after the 2021 July riots that left several schools vandalised, damaged or totally burned down in other instances.
• Members noted the Eastern Cape ED had reported the launch of pilot programmes in coding and robotics as part of the curriculum with 136 schools been identified in the Grade R to Grade 3 category, and 111 in Grade 7.

They requested the Department to provide an update on the challenges and successes experienced with this pilot rollout.
36 106 • On the Free State’s plans for implementation in line with learners' attainment of the National Senior Certificate (NSC), and the intervention programmes implemented to assist learners in obtaining their NSC, members wanted to establish to what extent learners who were not academically inclined were encouraged to pursue vocational training which only needs a Grade 9 pass.

• Members wanted to know about the findings during the school readiness monitoring conducted in January 2023.
How was it affecting education delivery in the country and how was the Department prepared to address the issues?

The Department had mentioned that 1 007 sanitation projects were to be completed by the 2023/24 financial year.

In what ways was the Department evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the projects?

How did the Department plan to ensure that the timeline and standards were met at the end of 2023/2024 financial year?
• Members wanted to know what had happened to schools that were affected by the July uprisings in Gauteng.

• Members wanted to know how Gauteng ED was dealing with its second chance Matric Programme and also wanted to know whether there are improvements in results.

• Members wanted an update on the state of eradication of pit-latrines in Gauteng schools.

• Members requested an update on the Youth Brigade project in Gauteng.
• Members were concerns about the high levels of school drop-out in Gauteng schools and wanted to know the cause.

• Members wanted to know how much the Gauteng ED spends per mobile class room and what is the life span of mobile class rooms as some seem to have reached their lifespan.

• Members were concerned about the learner-teacher ratio in Gauteng schools and whether it was conducive to teaching and learning.
• Members enquired on the status and measures being taken to ensure safety and security within Gauteng schools.

• Members enquired on the social cohesion programmes including school sport within Gauteng schools.

37 107 • Members enquired on how many schools in Gauteng are underperforming schools and what is the province doing to assist these schools.

• Members requested Mpumalanga ED to indicate what value does the Peace Corp volunteer programme add to the improvement of their teachers.
• Members noted the difficulties in attracting Maths and Science Educators and asked if the provinces could attract them to rural areas, given that most teachers with scarce skills tend to take on opportunities and reside in urban areas.

• Members enquired about the high rates of drop-out in schools.

Although the question was directed at all provinces, they were more interested in Gauteng which has the highest dropout rate.
They wanted to know how provincial governments were planning to address the problem of school dropout?

• Members asked about the triumphs and challenges were encountered by the District Development Model (DDM) with its emphasis on infrastructure, school nutrition, and water and sanitation supported by certain departments, and how the DDM assisted in addressing the budget shortfalls?
• KwaZulu Natal was questioned on how they are getting ready for the 2024 school year, including the preliminary work done by key players, how the public is included in planning processes, and how the results of the in-year school survey will be communicated to the public.

• Members noted with huge concern the eradication of asbestos roofs in KZN schools.

They wanted to know the number of schools affected by this and whether students and parents aware of the presence of these asbestos-roofed schools?
The also wanted to know whether regular medical tests or health screenings were for students, teachers and staff who were still exposed to these asbestos structures.

• Members were concerned about the KZN school nutrition programme, and raised further concerns over the centralisation of power and the responsibility given to an individual to handle such a complex activity of distributing food to schools in the province.
Members further wanted to know if there have been consequences for the service provider responsible for food distribution and whether there was a plan to assist learners who were negatively affected by the lack of food distribution.

38 108 • Members raised concerns over drug abuse in schools and how drugs have been made easily accessible.

• Members also raised concern over a lack of special schools in Emaphamdleni and asked if there are plans for building special schools in the near future.
• Members described the worst school situations the Committee encountered during its oversight visit to KZN.

The saddest scenario was a school for children with severe impairments being plundered and losing all their equipment and food.

Therefore, they asked if the July 2021 riots had been addressed in returning affected schools to normalcy.

• Members wanted to know the main problems, achievements and experiences with the Second Chance Matric programme in schools in addressing unplanned pregnancies.
• Members asked about the KZN department's strategies for managing the influx of learners who would be moving from one school to another due to the floods and the July 2021 uprising.

There asked about the steps and necessary interventions employed to address food shortages in the KZN school nutrition programme.
• Members noted that in Mpumalanga, ECD practitioners are now working without protective clothing in numerous ECD centres and asked on the status of the procurement of protective clothing for ECD practitioners.

• Members were concerned about the corrupt elements in the province including Department officials trying to hi-jack the scholar transport tenders.

• Members wanted to know if there are corrective measures in place for the unauthorised expenditure by the KZN Education Department.
• With questions directed to the Northern Cape, members wanted to know about the state of affairs at the Landbouskool (Agricultural School) in Jan Kempsdorp.

The school used to be an Afrikaans-medium instruction institution, but was changed to dual-medium instruction.

At the beginning of 2022, English speaking learners were placed there to get instruction in English, but this was mired with irregularities.

Therefore, more information on the matter was requested.
• Members were concerned at the state of hostels in Barkley West and Delportshoop in the Northern Cape.

These hostels urgently needed refurbishments and no plans had yet been forthcoming, despite the evident lack of scholar transport.

The mentioned 39 109 hostels were in a state of disarray; many did not have door handles.

This meant learners were not even safe while sleeping.

Water damage to the hostels and schools has impacted the quality of education the learners received.
There had also been complaints about a lack of food.

The Northern Cape only allocated a paltry R500 per learner for both food and accommodation.62 learners were not receiving food at the moment.

Clearly, this state of affairs could not be entertained.

Delportshoop had no mathematics and Afrikaans teachers since the start of the school year.

They therefore called for a speedy resolution to the accommodation challenges at these hostels.
• Directed to the Northern Cape, members wanted to understand the successes of the cyber laboratories and the impact they had on deep rural areas; if monitoring visits had been undertaken to ensure learners got the right instruction since the conversion of Afrikaans spaces to English dual-medium.

• Directed to the Western Cape, members were concerned about violence within schools in the province.
There requested more information about the collaboration between the Department of Education and the Office of the Premier regarding violence prevention in schools.

They wanted to establish which areas required intervention.

• Members requested the Western Cape to brief them about the lifespan of White Paper Six, which was implemented in 2001.

It was indicated that the White Paper had reached the end of its lifespan by 2021 yet the province still referenced it.
They wanted to know its current status and if there had been any amendments.

• Members asked the Northern Cape ED about their intention to cancel a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Northern Cape Department of Sports, Arts and Culture regarding school sport.

What does this mean for sport participation in schools?

The province was also asked to provide information on how active the schools are in the provision of extramural activities.
• Members asked both the Northern Cape and Western cape on how they managed the Presidential Youth Employment programme.

• The Western Cape ED was requested to provide input on the School Evaluation Assessments (SEA) reports.

Members wanted to know how these reports were used to encourage best practice.

40 110 9.

Responses from the Departments 9.1.


Responses by National Department of Basic Education • In terms of new schools built under the ASIDI programme, the Department reported only two schools are under construction, and construction hasn’t commenced on the other seven schools.

• On the SAFE programme, the Department indicated that it will send a written report on all its SAFE projects to date.
A programme support unit had been established solely for the purpose of monitoring this is conducted at the office of the DG.

• On the ICT matters, the Department has a sub-committee that does the monitoring if ITC and progress on connectivity in schools.

To date, about 18 000 schools have been connected.

The only challenge is the schools in rural areas that have not been connected due to the unavailability of network infrastructure for all mobile networks.
They needed more collaboration from telecom companies and the Department of Communications.

Devices needed to be made available.

The Department had received a donation of tablets that were used by Statistics South Africa in the last census.

These tablets had been allocated to all provinces and full usage would commence after they had been cleaned up.

However, there might not be enough for all schools.
• On school readiness findings, Provinces write reports to the DBE on how they are dealing with the reports and the process is ongoing.

• On the BELA Bill, the Department indicated that it has been attending the public hearings and it will scrutinise the comments made during the hearings.

• On the NSNP, the Department indicated that in provides ongoing training to food handlers in provinces on proper use of PPE.

• A framework policy for regulation of online schools had been developed.
The DBE’s legal department was consulted to ensure that checks and balances were in place.

The final process was underway, after which the structure would be presented for final approval and publication.

• On school readiness findings, the Department reported that reports were provided to the provinces and districts and were monitored by a team working in the DBE.

This 41 111 team worked with provinces to review how best to address the issues raised.
The provinces then provided reports on how the issues were addressed.

• The Department outlined the challenges picked up in the monitoring of the National School Nutrition Programme.

These included inadequate training of volunteers, health and hygiene issues, the quality of food delivered by service providers and financial management.

The DBE provided ongoing training to the provinces and districts, with a large team of national monitors constantly addressing these challenges.
• Regarding psycho-social services, there were working relationships with the Department of Social Development and NGOs working in that field.

The Department also had a dedicated unit of psycho-social practitioners to deal with incidents at schools.

9.2.

Responses by Eastern Cape Department of Education • The Department had also stated that they would continue to ensure the provision of an appropriate package of support to viable secondary schools in quintiles 1 to 3.
It had also been resolved that the provision of quality education was the main factor behind the rationalisation of small and unviable schools.

The second objective was improved financial efficiency and the re-distribution of resources to where they were most needed.

The process of rationalisation of schools was complex, so it would be informed by a provincial education plan, based on a needs assessments and merger trends.
Infrastructure revitalisation and development would be aligned with the rationalisation process.

• On the issue of infrastructure development and the return of R100 million to treasury in the previous financial year, the Eastern Cape ED reported that it had done a lot to ensure that when it opened this year, all planning and implementation of policies and procedures had taken place at the right time.

It used to procure at the beginning of each financial year, and this impeded its implementation later on.
It had since instituted measures that aided earlier planning, execution and implementation of its plans.

Another issue they highlighted was the payments to the 60 infrastructure 42 112 implementing agents.

The Department had decided to effect tranche payments to these implementing agents, who could then pay their contractors as well.

These measures have been implemented to prevent disruption of projects.
• On the issue of viable school support, the Department reported that when it moved learners from a non-viable school to a viable school, it ensured that the schools were equipped for the task.

One other non-administrative intervention was scholar transport.

Scholar transport was a shared competency with the Department of Transport (DoT), and at times the lines of communication between the DoT and the DoE became “blurred".
Where scholar transport could not be provided, the Department’s focus was on providing extra classrooms and hostel facilities.

• On the upskilling of staff, the Department reported that at a district level, there was up-skilling of subject advisors and circuit managers on the fundamentals for district performance.

This ensured that there was uniformity across the districts.

This process was largely driven by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
• On the second chance programme, the Department reported that it had never encouraged learners to repeat their matric.

The DBE had a programme under which former matriculants could rewrite certain subjects during the month of June, as well as in December.

It allocated rewriting centres across the province for both the June and December cycles.

Through these interventions, it tried to alleviate the stress of schools having to accommodate these former matriculants as well.
That was why they could rewrite certain subjects in June and December without repeating the entire grade and consolidating their results.

This was a very big programme driven by the national DBE and located within the Minister's office.

• On the ECD migration, the Department reported that the ECD migration in the Eastern Cape had been successful.

The Department had managed to smoothly transition the functions from the Department of Social Development, and coordination had gone well.
The Department was also working with ECD practitioners on up-skilling and training.

Formal partnerships had also been established with universities for officially recognised accreditation, and the national Ministry of Basic Education largely drove this process.

In the past, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) used to provide 43 113 training programmes, but these were not accredited to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), especially at NQF Level 6.
• It was stated that the DBE was also in the process of setting up an information management system across the nine provinces.

This would provide a one-stop-shop of information and resources that all nine provincial education departments could draw from.

• On coding and robotics, the Department noted that pilot projects always had their unique dynamics that had to be managed and tested quite carefully.
The coding and robotics policy had been established by the Department of Basic Education, which wanted to capture the outcomes in terms of the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).

The availability of learner resource material and textbooks in line with the CAPS remained a challenge.

• One publisher had indicated their willingness to work with the Department on textbooks.

Some training providers also provided lesson plans and other resource material.
The Department had decided to go back to the annual teaching plan, and opted to train existing technology teachers in the coding and robotics curriculum.

• The training of subject advisors and various strategies would be devised to assess how robotics was taught in schools.

The Department would also be looking at the funding framework and the scope of these pilot projects.

Funding baselines had been established by using the baselines of other technical subjects.
There was a very small number of schools in the pilot, yet these schools were also representative of the various kinds of schools in the province.

The Department hoped to learn lessons from these.

• The members were not satisfied that their questionnaire on pit-latrines were not answered.

9.3.
9.3.

Responses by Free State Department of Education • The Free State ED reported that the software question was about corporate operational requirements, and had absolutely nothing to do with the software made available to schools.

The software utilised by schools was provisioned for in terms of the various budgetary allocations.

44 114 • The Department reported that it had five smart schools which it operated, and these are all well-resourced.
Coding and robotics were funded through the Maths, Science and Technology (MST) grant.

This was specifically for learners.

Teachers were trained through the skills levy.

• On ECD migration, the Department reported that when the ECD competency was moved to the Department it was integrated into existing programmes.

Some ECD centres were already integrated into Programme 5.

Those centres that came from the DSD were fully functional and funded.
The Department had a record management problem, and has since ensured that these centres were integrated into the information management system (IMS).

Additional support came through the Department’s partnership with the University of the North West’s Potchefstroom campus.

It was also reported that the ECD migration had been successful, and that Grade R practitioners had received training on CAPS, and pre-Grade R practitioners on the national curriculum framework.
There had also been up-skilling for advanced practitioners from Level 5 to NQF Level 6.

This qualified practitioners as full teachers, and 450 had been absorbed into the Personnel Salary System (PERSAL).

• On underperforming schools, the Department reported that the provincial strategy on learner attainment was specific on the interventions required when dealing with under-and non-performing schools.

The Department would embark on intervention measures as soon as results were released.
Most grades were assessed, but the Department assessed grades 8 and 9 in particular.

These interventions were seen as critical in stemming problems arising closer to grade 12.

Additional support to non- and under-performing schools was also provided through spring, autumn and winter classes.

Saturday classes were encouraged and implemented in large numbers.

This programme assisted the learners immensely.


Schools would also begin to benchmark themselves, and had started their own extra classes programme.

Learners could be observed walking to school on Saturdays with their textbooks in their hands across the province.

• On the Second chance programme, the Department shared some statistics on the “Second Chance Matric Programme".

In one region, 524 people had written, and 466 had passed.

This gave a pass rate of 88.9 per cent.


In Letshobela, 2 459 people had 45 115 written, of whom 1 756 had passed.

In Mangaung, 2 580 people wrote, of whom 2 095 had passed, and in Gariep, 908 wrote and 646 passed.

In another region, 3 276 people wrote and 2 785 had passed.

This gave the “Second Chance Matric Programme” a 78.9 per cent pass rate.

The performance was quite considerable.


• The Department also reported that it recognised Non-performing schools as those schools which recorded a pass rate of 65 per cent and less.

The Department had now set the target at 75 per cent, to encourage schools to maintain higher pass rates 9.4.

Responses by Gauteng Department of Education • The Department responded to members’ concerns over drop-out rates.

Gauteng had found that the dropout rate in the GET band had stabilized.
There were gaps in the figures caused by the migration of learners to other forms of education, such as home schools.

The 18 and 19 year-olds referred to in the question were deemed to be over- age in most cases.

However, it was not the intention to allow anyone to leave school without a full education.

Learners not returning to school had to be dealt with by the school principals.

Where they could not deal with it, the matter should be escalated to the district office.
It was difficult to enforce education for those over the age of 15 because they were out of the compulsory education band.

Learners leaving a provincial education system did not necessarily mean they were dropping out.

Interprovincial migration was a factor.

• On the issue of mobile classrooms, the Department reported that is spends approximately R400 000 per mobile classroom and each class lasts about 20 years depending on how the school looks after it.
There was a limited budget, funded mainly from the National Infrastructure Grant, which limited the GDE’s ability to be more responsive in building permanent structures.

There was a net increase of 60 000 learners annually.

Settlement patterns were not clear and this affected projections.

The GDE had received a national allocation of R1.5 billion over the next three years to build 18 schools.

With this and the national grant, a total of 35 schools would be built.
Most of them would replace schools with asbestos roofing, schools with structural damage and mobile schools.

46 116 • On safety and security in schools, the Gauteng ED has a formal agreement with SAPS and community safety over safety and security in schools.

There are regular patrols in schools being done and community safety committees within communities each adopting a school that they will assist in making sure that the particular school provides a safe environment for teaching and learning.
One big initiative was to recruit community members to serve as patrollers.

About 6 000 were deployed in high-risk areas and at no fee schools.

• On social cohesion, the Department reported that it is working of getting township schools to introduce school sport and will incentivize them to make school sport more competitive.

The department further reported that the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, remains the main funder of school sport in the province.
Learners were also encouraged to participate in cultural activities such as chess tournaments, public speaking and leadership programmes.

• On second chance programme and underperforming schools, the Department reported that there are four schools that are underperforming, with less than 40 per cent of Matric Pass rate, and these are mainly independent schools.
They were picking up from the June/July exams that most learners making use of the opportunity were completing the old National Senior Certificate process.

Measures were in place to assist underperforming schools.

The Department was considering management and personnel changes at five chronically underperforming schools.

• On pit-latrines, the Department says it have eradicated pit-latrines in the province and of a few schools still remaining.
There were two schools that still had pit-latrine facilities, even though waterborne toilets had been installed.

The problem was getting the municipal authorities to extend bulk services to the schools.

The schools were refusing to allow the pit latrines to be demolished.

They would now be provided with alternative solutions.

• Regarding teacher-learner ratios, a model was used that allocated exactly the same number of teachers to schools offering the same subjects and with the same number of learners.
However, most township schools were multilingual and these complicated efforts to have a fair distribution of teachers, some classes were overcrowded because 47 117 of the language choice.

Sometimes there was a shortage of classrooms.

Budget cuts meant additional teachers could not be employed.

• The Department was able to stabilise schools affected by the July uprisings, however there were ongoing problems related to civil strikes among community organisations which disrupted schooling.

9.5.
9.5.

Responses by Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Education • On the challenges facing the National School Nutrition Programme, the Department indicated that it had made an effort to advise the service provider to seek more assistance in distributing food.

The service provider did embrace the advice and collaborated with big shops and it indeed helped to some extent.

However, there were still challenges with punctuality and coordination of delivery addresses.
Another challenge KZN experienced was that some service providers abruptly cancelled their contracts with the Department and this consequentially affected food reaching learners.

At some point the Department directly distributed food to different schools, although there have been processes unfolding to resolve this matter permanently.
For now, the MEC has resolved to revert back to the old way of doing things where the service provider buys the food and drops it off at a central location and the distribution is administered and dispatched from there.

Deliberations with management and potential stakeholders will unfold around this suggestion going forward.

The MEC referred the question of why the entire KZN relied on a single service provider to the HOD because it is a procurement matter.
KZN Education HOD reported that there was more than one participant.

The only problem was that they were required to procure food from one big retail shop.

The rationale behind that was that in the past, learners were supplied with poor quality food because it was coming from different sources.

Secondly, the service providers who were mainly SMMEs did not have cheaper access to food and it would impact negatively on their profit margins.
However, the big retail shop that won the tender failed and is in breach of contract.

He has already written a letter to them whilst at the same time exploring the legal loopholes of cancelling the contract.

The HOD made a commitment that whilst pursuing contract cancellation, they will make efforts to continue feeding learners.

48 118 • On the unauthorised expenditure, the Department replied that this arises from the impact of the budget cuts on the compensation of employees.
This meant that teachers had to be paid and retrenchment is never an option.

If the KZN department were to reduce the number of teachers, it will lead to near collapse of the education system.

• On the Second Chance Matric and teenage pregnancy, the Department replied that they have been putting systems in place and have introduced the programme called “My Future, My Life” with the intention to conscientise learners about sexual activity, drug abuse and other social ills.
This was done, in some instances, with the collaboration of South African Police.

• The KZN ED has a thorough list of schools damaged by floods and the status of their repairs.

It inspected the damage after the floods.

It then classified the severely damaged ones which the province had to deal with.

In some cases, schools were given an opportunity to repair with their own budget.

Due to budget constraints, there is still a backlog in some rural areas and some special schools.
• On bullying, KZN has incorporated it into the “My Future, My Life” campaign as well as in the Life Orientation course.

• On the DDM and how it helps with budget shortfalls, the KZN PED has been working with other departments such as the Department of Transport, particularly on how they can help in building bridges.

Programmes such as Sukumasakhe have a war room in every ward where the departments meet and engage on important matters of taking communities forward.
• On pit-latrines, the provincial department has received extensive assistance from the National Department in eliminating many of them.

This also is done without losing focus on dealing with aging infrastructure of sanitation facilities.

Although KZN is transporting 67 000 learners, the need for more learner transport remains, hence the need for an increase in the budget.
• In response to the members asking if the province still has Peace Corp volunteers, the Department reported that they did have three years ago but not at the moment.

49 119 9.6.

Responses by North West Department of Education • The Department hailed its relationship with the North West Department of Arts, Culture and Sport.

The relationship was almost perfect and DCAS provided a lot of support.

The Summer and Winter Games were run without challenges.

Currently, the focus is on athletics.


The Department also acknowledged the DCAS assistance with deaf learner instruction.

The North West had one special school for the deaf, while the private schools struggled to attract suitably qualified teachers.

The province engaged on this matter at various universities in the province, and the engagement was ongoing.

BCAA’s would assist the Department in finding suitably qualified teachers for deaf learners.
• On choral music tuition and competitions, the HOD said the North West employed several choral music teachers, though these teachers were not all necessarily qualified.

Plans were afoot to assist these unqualified teachers to become qualified.

• The North West had a total of four Special Schools Resource Centres attached to four full-service schools.

9.7.
9.7.

Responses by Mpumalanga Department of Education • The Department replied that there are currently eight US Peace Corps members that are utilised according to their area of specialisation.

This has been a mutually beneficial exercise as the volunteers have benefited from the communities they reside in.

• The Second Chance Matric programme is funded by the DBE, although the province does augment to ensure that there is coverage across all the districts and sub-districts.
• On recruiting of Maths and Science teachers, like other provinces, they have benefited from the Funza Lushaka programme.

• On pit latrines, Mpumalanga has only one school that uses pit latrines but there have been efforts to address this.

However, sanitation remains a challenge.

She made a projection that by the end of 2024 all schools in the province will have adequate basic services and would have eradicated or at least provided additional adequate sanitation.
• On asbestos, the HOD emphasised that there is no school that is built totally in asbestos, but there are cases where one or two classrooms may be built or roofed with 50 120 asbestos.

So overall there are 64 schools and 30 of these schools have one or two classrooms made of asbestos.

However, efforts are made to completely eradicate them.

• On learner dropouts, the province has conducted a study assisted by the University of Witwatersrand and that has influenced how the department responds to this.
The dropout rate has been declining as a result of identifying problems.

Because what the study demonstrated is that the drop out is mostly caused by what happens outside school premises as opposed to in schools.

In collaboration with Social Development, the province has launched programmes to combat substance abuse and bullying.
There is also a programme under the leadership of the Deputy Minister, where work is being done in partnership with stakeholders, including Social Development, to educate students about the consequences of bullying.

The Department stated that in schools and regions where incidents have been confirmed, there is counselling for both the perpetrator and the victim, as well as in situations where the perpetrator or victim must be shifted from one school to another.
• On school transport, the matter between local taxis and school transport was resolved through the National Department of Transport.

9.8.

Responses by Northern Cape Department of Education • The Committee was informed that Landbouskool in Jan Kempsdorp was offering a mixed curriculum to meet the demand of English learners as well.

The school had not abandoned its core function of teaching Agriculture.

The Northern Cape wanted the school to maintain its agriculture focus.
The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture had also been engaged in a partnership agreement to assist the school.

These dialogues are still ongoing.

The school would remain tasked with teaching Agriculture and large tracks of its land were currently under irrigation.

The Northern Cape would also provide information on the current intake and the curriculum offered at the school.
• On pit latrines, committee members were informed the Northern Cape eradicated pit latrines and only three pit latrine sites still have to be filled.

A tender with the required 51 121 specifications had been sent out for official gazette.

All three of these schools had the proper sanitation.

• Regarding Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, committee members heard the migration had been completed.
Many of the ECD centres from the Department of Social Development (DSD) functioned as glorified babysitting centres.

The Northern Cape Department of Education had to ensure these former DSD centres were aligned to those already under Education's purview.

Plans and policies were continuously being introduced to align these centres.

Before ECD centres could be registered, they had to meet certain criteria.
Members were also informed about age-specific toilet seats, which would be a feature of all newly built ECD centres and the guidelines were sent out to all ECD centres.

The Northern Cape conceded, given current realities, there would be centres which still did not have these and remained a work in progress.

• There were 160 primary schools which already had a specific toilet seat.
Inappropriate school structures remained a challenge and the Northern Cape had what it called an entire asbestos belt comprising many schools.

• The Northern Cape had, on several occasions, submitted applications for extra infrastructure funds, however these were never granted.

It seemed Gauteng province was the only one that was successful in its motivation.

Nonetheless, the province currently had nine new schools under construction and was following the guidelines on asbestos.
The province maintained a 60-40 split on Education Improvement Grant (EIG) funding.

The entire Budget of the province for infrastructure development stood at R997 million and laid bare the challenges for the prophets.

If the province managed to spend its entire Budget on infrastructure development, it would unlock incentive funding from Treasury going forward.

Members were also informed a tender had been put out for both the hostel and the School at Delportshoop.
A total of 30 hostels are also currently being renovated to the tune of R212 million.

Two new hostels were also due to come into operation in the rural areas of the Northern Cape.

• On the Scholar Transport tender, she said the Department was in the process of finalising the tender.

Scholar Transport remained a challenge for the Northern Cape, given its geographical spread.

Members were also informed about the province not having a transport provider.
However, this provider had withdrawn its services a day 52 122 prior to the opening of schools in the Northern Cape.

Emergency discussions with this service provider proved fruitless and emergency plans had to be made.

The end result was the community revolted to show its unhappiness.

• On the question about there not being any Maths or Afrikaans teachers at the Delporthoop school, the official said additional teachers had since been appointed.
She had not heard of any ceiling which collapsed and recalled severe weather affected a school in the Brandvlei area.

• On cyber labs, the MEC noted these labs brought technology to both urban and far- flung areas.

It gave learners access to the world and a variety of subject matters.

The Department of Education launched this innovation in an effort to modernise the education system and to provide solutions toward being responsive to the demands of the fourth industrial revolution.
These cyber labs were unique as they responded to four zones which represented the economic drivers of the Northern Cape, namely Mining, Agriculture, Astronomy, and Solar Energy.

Learners would also be able to navigate various dimensions of each zone through the giant multi-touch high- resolution screens, would be able to watch 3D animations, take virtual tours, and engage with interactive content and simulations giving it continued career guidance and stimulation for innovative long-life learning.
These cyber labs were spaces designed for learners and provided it with explorative hardware and software, which was exciting and meaningful.

The cyber labs also housed augmented reality posters, digital tablets, and virtual reality headsets, enabling learners to create an environment with a sense of presence.

Since the community members found out about these high tech centres the cyber labs have experienced high levels of vandalism and break-ins, with devices and other equipment being stolen.
This matter was receiving attention in various communities.

• The demand for English-speaking schools was high.

The Department engaged with Afrikaans schools to phase out certain Afrikaans subjects to make way for English learners.

This was only done where no interest had been shown in Afrikaans classes.

• On the issue of school dropouts, the Department noted the issue of school dropouts was a societal issue which touched on many socio-economic ills.
The Department had a variety of initiatives which contributed to stemming rising incidents of school 53 123 dropouts.

Peer education had also been instituted with the help of the HIV/AIDS grant.

Sexual reproduction health has also received particular attention.

The Department had a policy to encourage learners not to abscond and to return to school.

Continuous psychosocial support to learners through the Special Education Unit was already in place.
The Department also leveraged its relationship with the Department of Social Development (DSD) to tackle issues such as gangsterism at schools.

The Department reported that the National Nutritional Schools programme was another way to combat school dropouts as many learners faced food insecurity at home.

The Northern Cape had taken a holistic approach to the issue instead of being simplistic about it.
• The Department's relationship with the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) was said to be cordial and assisted the former with sports administration and social cohesion matters.

• The Second-Chance Matric programme was also said to be alive and well in the Northern Cape.

There was a lot of enthusiasm and results were always eagerly awaited.
• The Department responded to the question on capacitating invigilators and said after each exam cycle, monitoring and evaluation reports were drafted.

These reports, in conjunction with those of Umalusi, were turned into training manuals for the province's five districts.

The districts would then host "Coaching Clinics" and Training seminars on these manuals with circuit and district officials.

9.9.
9.9.

Responses by Western Cape Department of Education • On the White Paper six of 2001, the Department indicated that the WCED collaborated with higher education institutions to give more impetus to White Paper Six and to develop a working narrative on inclusive education.

To this end, work had focused on strengthening full-service schools, increasing the number of full-service schools, and the establishment of Special Schools Resource Centres.
Selected Special Schools had an outreach function to ordinary and full-service schools.

Various outreach teams had also been dispatched to districts, especially on autism.

All these efforts formed part of understanding the challenges at Special Schools.

Learner 54 124 support teachers were also employed to give further meaning to the intended deliverable of White Paper Six.

The Western Cape is also currently busy with a review of White Paper Six and this should be completed in due course.
• On violence in schools, the Department conceded the point about violence in schools and lamented the rising incidents.

The Department used funds from its HIV-AIDS grant for an anti-drug campaign which was launched in schools, as drugs were associated with violence.

To further curb rising violence incidents at Western Cape schools, School Resource Officers had been deployed to schools and assisted in areas such as Manenberg.
These School Resource Officers have been trained in law enforcement by the City of Cape Town.

The Department was busy with school safety initiatives in the form of School Safety Committees based at schools.

These School Safety Committees took responsibility for school safety plans.

These self-regulatory organisations (SROs) were engaged with crime prevention, relationship-building with stakeholders, and a Discipline programme premised on restorative justice.
More SROs would also be employed to Khayelitsha, Delft, Philippi, and Westbank to stem violence and drug prevalence in Western Cape schools.

• On the second chance programme, the Department reported that the Second Chance Matric programme and said it was up and running and provided face-to-face tutoring in 17 centres in all eight districts of the province.

These learners received study guides, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) guides, had access to past exam papers, and used laptops.
These centres were administered by centre managers, teachers, and assistants.

These staff members were all unemployed people from neighbourhoods and this programme worked because the WCED said it had a close working relationship with the circuits as well as the districts.

Remuneration was calculated according to a sliding scale; for example, a tutor might receive R387.50 cents an hour for 30 learners; R193.06 per hour for six to nine people; and R96 per hour for five or fewer.
These centres also employed administrative assistants who worked for 60 hours a month and were remunerated at R86.80 cents per hour.

Currently, 2 206 people were registered as candidates, nine as administrative assistants, and 59 teachers were on the books.

All subjects except those of a technical nature were offered from Mondays to Saturdays.

Centres did not tutor every day.


The 55 125 Chief Director of Districts coordinated and planned the various classes and provided supplementary support with A4 paper for printing, for example.

• On extra mural activities, the Western Cape after-school programmes were coordinated at the Chief Directorate level in the various districts.

In the Western Cape, it was called the Schools Enrichment programme and included special projects and competitions.
A School Enrichment coordinator within the District supported and managed the afterschool programme, which also encourages social cohesion and inclusion.

This programme broadly had two parts: learner participation and training teachers to support learners in the rolling out of cultural diversity activities.
Currently, the province participated in various initiatives such as the Moot Court mock court competition, the Youth Citizen in Action, the Oral History programme, and the High School Drama Festival in conjunction with the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.

• On sporting codes, the Committee was told the Department currently offered 17 different sporting codes.
When it came to Mass Participation, Opportunity and Access, Development and Growth (MODD) centres, the Department had worked in close cooperation with the Department of Culture, Arts and Sports within the Western Cape Province.

To this end, the Department made a tutoring budget available for MODD.

These tutoring activities were aligned and incorporated into other sporting codes and Arts and Culture activities.

The aim was to ensure a hundred percent participation in after-school activities.
Schools were very creative in learning from one another, especially regarding sharing timetables and hosting events on the same day.

This prevented learners from waiting on scholar transport.

District Resource Officers report to districts after each event.

The District Development Plan also set target sporting codes.

9.10.
9.10.

Responses by Limpopo Department of Education • On the second change programme, the Department indicated that the Second Chance programme for matric students that might not have returned because of the high rate of pregnancy or those that are returning.

Limpopo has 23 Second Chance centres that are spread across the 10 districts and that there are two phases.

The first phase starting 56 126 in January is mainly for repeat learners writing exams in May/June.
The second phase in July is intended for repeat part-time candidates who will take exams in November/December.

The Department has presently enrolled 6 000 people in the province in phase one throughout all districts, for those who wish to improve their grades and those who did not appear for the exams due to the difficulties presented.
• On the eradication of pit latrines, the MEC demarcated pit latrines into three categories: 1) about 519 pit latrines have been addressed; 2) unsuitable facilities in schools where the resolution has been to demolish them; 3) those for which the national department has already made a grant available.

• The MEC explained that the ECD migration has been finalised and it has been included in the department organogram and budget.
• The Department answered that previously the Department has hired foreign nationals as Maths and Science teachers but teaching is no longer classified as a scarce skill.

In some cases, the posts are filled through the HOD where the school will request the department to help fill such posts.

• On bullying, the province has strengthened its relationship with the police with some schools being adopted by police stations.
The Limpopo health department has also been engaged and has been helpful on issues such as teenage pregnancy and HIV awareness.

• The Department replied about the District Development Model, saying that districts have their own projects and the Department has noted that even though there is information for all the districts, sometimes the districts run on their own and do not engage when it comes to developing or finalising their Integrated Development Plan (IDP) so that it becomes an integrated plan.

10.
10.

Committee recommendations 10.1.

Committee recommendations to the National Department of Basic Education The Committee, having considered Budget Vote 16: Basic Education, together with the Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Basic Education recommends the following: 57 127 • The Department is to provide members with a plan that will formalise ECD curriculum in a way that will ensure that children are being prepared for the formal education system.
The Department should also provide a plan to ensure that ECD centers are disability friendly for children living with disabilities.

The Department is to also indicate by when ECD practitioners will receive the necessary training and qualifications.

These plans are to be reported back to the committee by the end of the third quarter.
• The Department is to ensure that all schools within provinces have eradicated pit- latrines by the end of the third-quarter and report back to the committee on the status of eradication by 28 February 2024.

The Department should also provide a report on the state of all its planned SAFE projects and those currently underway by the end of the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
• The Department is to implement a programme of how it will work with provinces to combat school drop-outs and how it plans to ensure that it brings those that have dropped-out back into the system.

• The Department is to ensure effective monitoring over the expenditure of conditional grants in provinces and ensure that measured are in place to ensure that monies are spent for their intended purpose.
• The Department is to implement a new MOU with the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture to ensure that there is provision of competitive sport school and as well as creative Arts in all schools.

• The Department is to ensure that the construction of all nine schools under the ASIDI programme is concluded by the end of the financial year.

A status report must be sent to the committee by the 31st January 2024.
• The Department is to interact with all its stakeholders to ensure that all schools have access to internet connectivity before the end of the financial year.

• The Department should work together with provinces to ensure that there are measures in place to strengthen and implement the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) in all provinces in order for more learners to obtain national certificates and access higher education.

58 128 10.2.
58 128 10.2.

Committee recommendations to the Provincial Departments of Education • All provinces are to ensure that all schools have eradicated Pit-Latrines by the end of the third quarter of 2023/24 financial year.

A status report must be sent to the Select Committee the end of January 2024.

• The Provinces should ensure that a training and development plan for ECD practitioners is available and implemented by the end of the Second Quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
The Departments should form partnerships with institutions of higher learning to allow for training of ECD practitioners to acquire formal qualifications.

A status report on the implementation is to be sent to the committee by the end of January 2024.

• All provinces should provide resources and support to non-performing schools (schools with high matric failure rate) and submit a report on work done to assist these schools to perform better, by the end of February 2024.
• The Gauteng Education Department should provide feedback on all the schools that were vandalised during the 2021 July riots, and the state of those schools currently.

Feedback should be provided to the committee by the end of the second quarter.

• All Departments are to implement a retention plan targeted at attracting and retaining Maths and Science Educators in rural areas.
• All the Departments are to ensure that schools work together with their local law enforcement agencies and community policing forums the ensure safety and security in schools.

High risk schools should be provided with the necessary security officers.

• All Departments are to prioritise the eradication of Asbestos roofs in schools in the 2023/24 financial year.
The Departments are to send a report to the committee on how many schools in their respective provinces have asbestos roofs, and how many have been eradicated.

The reports should be submitted by the end of February 2024.

• The Committee called for a speedy resolve of the KZN school nutrition programme and immediate assurance that learners in all affected schools receive food with immediate effect.
Members seek an immediate investigation into the matter, consequence management to the taken, and a detailed report to be submitted to the committee during the second quarter (end of July 2023).

59 129 • All provinces are to ensure that all suppliers involved in the NSNP are effectively vetted to deliver food to schools.

This includes the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to food handlers.

This should be a matter of priority, given the challenges around KZN NSNP.
• The Committee seeks a detailed report from both the Gauteng Province and the Kwa- Zulu Natal Education Departments on the state of rebuilding and functioning of schools that were damaged during July 2021 riots.

The report in KZN should also include that status of schools that were affected by the floods.

The feedback report should be provided to members by the end of the Second quarter in September 2023.
• The Northern Cape Education Department is to address the infrastructure challenges at the accommodation/hostels of Barkley West and Delportshoop schools in the Northern Cape.

The Department is to send a progress report to the committee on the fixing of the school’s infrastructure by the third quarter with the deadline being 30 November 2023.
• Members are to receive a report on the collaboration between the Department of Education and the Office of the Premier, as well as law enforcement agencies regarding violence prevention in schools and as to whether the collaboration has curbed incidences of violence in schools.

The deadline for this report will be the 30th of November 2023.
• The Committee should receive an update on plans and MOUs outlining how the Departments will work together with the provincial Departments of Sport and Recreation, Arts and Culture to strengthen social cohesion programmes including school sport and arts programmes.

The MOUs between the departments must be concluded before the end of the second quarter by end of August 2023.

11.
11.

Conclusion Having satisfied itself in its engagement with the Department of Basic Education on their Annual Performance Plan and Budget, the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture recommends that Budget Vote 16: Basic Education be adopted and that the House approves Budget.

Report to be considered.

60 130 3.


Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture on Budget Vote 17: Higher Education and Training, dated 31 May 2023 The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, having considered Budget Vote 17: Higher Education and Training, reports as follows: 1.
Introduction The Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) derives its mandate from Sustainable Development Goal Number Four, National Development Plan, Action Plan to 2024 for Schooling 2030, and the Medium Term Strategic Framework, to shape its plans such as the Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plans.
The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture (the Committee) considered the Budget and the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP) of the Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.

The budget review briefing served to acquaint the 6th Parliament Select Committee with the mandate, programmes and priorities of the Department.
This report gives a brief summary of the presentation made by the Department to the Committee, focusing mainly on the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and the 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) allocations.

The report also provides the Committee’s key deliberations and recommendations relating to Vote 17.

2.
2.

Summary of the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan The Department, in the five years (2019 to 2024) had planned to implement the following set of priorities, which are expressed as Medium Term Strategic Framework Outcomes: • Outcome 1: An integrated and coordinated PSET system.

• Outcome 2: Expanded access to PSET opportunities.

• Outcome 3: Improved success and efficiency of the PSET system.

Page 1 131 • Outcome 4: Improved quality of PSET provisioning.

• Outcome 5: A responsive PSET system.


• Outcome 6: Excellent business operations within the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP) represents the fifth year towards the achievements of objectives contained in the Department’s 2020 – 2025 revised Strategic Plan.

The presentation by the Department to the Committee outlined the Department's approach to the government-wide National Development Plan (NDP) and higher education sector priorities.
The intention was to ensure programme activities in the sector were aligned with medium and long-term goals.

The annual performance plan (APP) set out what the Department intended doing in the 2023/24 financial year and during the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, to implement its strategic plan.

Table 1 below is the summary of Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year.
Table 1: Summary of DHET Programme Performance Indicators for the 2023/24 financial year Programme No.

of Annual Quarterly Bi-Annual Biennially/ indicators Targets Targets Targets Targets per programme 1.

Administration 15 2.

Planning, Policy and Strategy 25 3.

University Education 28 4.

Technical and Vocational 22 Education and Training (TVET) 5.

Skills Development 11 4 24 27 18 10 10 1 1 4 1 1 - - - - - - - - - 2 132 6.
Community Education and 9 8 - Training (CET) Total distribution 110 91 17 1 2 - - Percentage distribution 100% 83% 15% 2% 0% The above table presents a summary of indicators per programme for the DHET.

The DHET has a total of 110 indicators; distributed as follows: 91/110 indicators have annual targets (i.e.

83 per cent); 17/110 indicators have quarterly targets (15 per cent); 2/110 indicators have biennial targets (2 per cent); and 0/110 indicators have biennial/biannual targets (0 per cent).

3.
3.

Budget of the Department 3.1.

Programmes Allocations over the 2023 MTEF The table below reflects the budget allocation for 2023/24 and over the medium term.

Table 2: Summary of the overall Budget allocation and medium-term estimates 2022/23 – 2025/26 R million 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Total Total Total Total MTEF allocation 1.

Administration Purpose: Provide strategic leadership, management and support services to the DHET.

493,7 517,5 539,8 562,7 2.


Planning, Policy and Purpose: Provide strategic direction in the and development, implementation Strategy monitoring of departmental policies and the Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa.. 4 912,9 1 764,9 6 109,9 4 524,2 3.

University Purpose: Develop and coordinate policy Education and regulatory frameworks for an effective and efficient university education system.
It also provides financial and other support to universities, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and education institute.

the national higher 4.

Technical and Vocational Purpose: Plan, implement, monitor, maintain and evaluate national develop, 88 581,7 92 644,5 98 559,5 102 973,9 12 623,1 12 755,0 13 323,5 13 918,7 3 133 Education and Training (TVET) policy, programme assessment practices and systems for TVET colleges.
It also provides financial and other support to TVET colleges and regional offices.

5.

Skills Development Purpose: Promote and monitor the National It also Skills Development Strategy.

6.

Community Education and Training (CET) develops skills development policies and regulatory frameworks for an effective skills development system develop, Plan, implement, monitor, maintain and evaluate national policy, programme assessment practices and systems for community education and training.
It further provides financial and 421,5 432,0 336,3 350,8 other support to CET colleges.
2 481,9 2 667,7 2 787,9 2 910,7 Total expenditure estimates Direct charge against the National Revenue Fund Sector Education and Training Authorities National Skills Fund Source: National Treasury ENE (2023) Table 2 shows an overview of the 2023/24 Budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Estimates: Total expenditure over the MTEF period is expected to reach R432.4 billion, with transfers and subsidies to departmental agencies and accounts and higher education institutions comprising 91.2 per cent (R394.1 billion) of this amount.
The medium-term increase in budget represents an average 2.8 per cent in budget in nominal terms, but a decrease by 2 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The allocation for 2023/24 is R133.8 billion, which is an increase from R130.1 billion in 2022/23.

Another notable increase in allocation is it the National Skills Fund, showing an increase from R4.1 billion in 2022/23 to R4.6 billion in 2023/24.
This Entity needs to direct particular attention on the incidences of maladministration and poor financial records in the previous financial years, whereby funds within the entity could not be properly accounted for.

Ministerial intervention to ensure that the entity achieves good governance needs to be followed up on to ensure efficiency in the expenditure of the budget.

3.2.
Economic Classifications Allocations over the 2023 MTEF 4 134 Table 3: Budget Estimates under Economic Classification Economic Classification Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand Nominal per Real per cent change cent change change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Compensation of Employees 10 775 567,0 11 180 080,0 404 513,0 - 117 721,4 3,75 per cent -1,09 per cent and 677 985,0 672 137,0 - 5 848,0 - 37 244,3 -0,86 per cent -5,49 per cent Goods Services Transfers and 118 657 271,0 121 651 029,0 2 993 758,0 -2 688 701,9 2,52 per cent -2,27 per cent subsidies Payments for 23 375,0 305 298,0 281 923,0 267 662,2 1206,09 per cent 1145,08 per cent capital assets Payments for financial assets Total 0,0 0,0 - 0,0 - 0,0 -100,00 per cent -100,00 per cent 130 134 198,0 133 808 544,0 3 674 346,0 -2 576 005,4 2,82 per cent -1,98 per cent Table 3 shows the Departments overall budget allocation per economic classification.
The 2023/24 budget increases in Compensation of Employees, Goods and Services as well as Transfers and Subsidies is below inflation.

The highest reduction in budget is under Goods and Services with an inflation adjusted reduction of 5.5 per cent.

Payments of capital assets increased from R23.3 million to R305.2 million.
Spending on compensation of employees accounts for an estimated 8.1 per cent of total expenditure over the period ahead, comprising 62.8 per cent (R25.4 billion) of spending in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme for TVET college lecturers and support staff, and 91.6 per cent (R7.7 billion) of spending in the Community Education and Training programme for CET educators.
Expenditure on compensation of employees across programmes is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 4.6 per cent, from R10.7 billion in 2022/23 to R12.2 billion in 2025/26.

4.

Budgetary allocations per programme 4.1.

Programme 1: Administration 5 135 This programme plays an important role in giving effect to first priority of the NDP, that is, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.
This priority is also expressed in the MTSF for the five-year term 2019-2024, as a crucial mode that is required to achieve Vision 2030.

This includes capacity-building programmes for the financial year 2023/24 that will target officials who have identified training programmes for their professional development.

Including officials who have identified programmes to assist them in addressing skills needs and competencies required to deliver the outcomes of the Department.
Table 4: Programme 1 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.

Sub-programme R million Budget change change cent change change 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Nominal Rand Real Rand Nominal per Real per cent 1.

Department Management 36,0 39,8 246,6 263,0 3,8 16,4 1,9 4,1 10,56 per cent 5,39 per cent 6,65 per cent 1,67 per cent 2.

Corporate Management Services 3.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer 4.

Internal Audit 5.
Internal Audit 5.

Office Accommodation 115,2 115,2 0,0 - 5,4 0,00 per cent -4,67 per cent 12,7 83,2 12,7 83,2 TOTAL 493,7 513,9 0,0 0,0 20,2 - 0,6 - 3,9 - 3,8 0,00 per cent -4,67 per cent 0,00 per cent -4,67 per cent 4,09 per cent -0,77 per cent Table 4 shows the budget allocation in programme one.

There is an overall increase in budget from R493.7 million in 2022/23 to R513.9 million in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 4.1 per cent, but a 0.7 per cent decrease when inflation adjusted.
Majority of the budget allocation in the programme was R263 million which is allocated to sub-programme two of corporate management services.

There is no change in budget in sub-programmes three, four, and five, which all represent a 4.7 per cent decrease in spending power when inflation in factored into the allocation.

Sub- programme one and two had a higher than inflation increase in budget allocation for the 2023/24 financial year, with a real increase of 5.4 and 1.7 per cent, respectively.

4.2.
4.2.

Programme 2: Planning, Policy and Strategy Programme Objectives: 6 136 • Expand access to post‐school education and training opportunities to include those outside the schooling system by developing, gazetting and implementing 7 policies over the MTEF period related to the national qualifications framework, career development services, and open and e‐learning.
• Monitor social inclusion and equity in the post‐school education and training system by producing an annual monitoring report, to be approved by the director‐general, on the implementation of social inclusion in the post‐school education and training system.
• Provide strategic direction in the development and implementation of departmental policies by monitoring and evaluating the department’s policy outputs and coordinating research in the fields of higher education and training over the next three years.

• Improve success and efficiency in the post‐school education and training sector by producing and publishing five reports over the medium-term aimed at supporting decision‐making, enrolment planning, funding and policy‐making.
• Promote international relations by entering into at least two new international scholarship agreements with foreign countries each year over the medium term.

• Improve the responsiveness of the post‐school education and training system by producing nine research reports over the medium-term aimed at supporting decision‐ making for enrolment planning, funding and policy‐making on critical skills, occupations in high demand, priority skills, and skills supply and demand.
• Improve infrastructure delivery at post‐school education and training institutions over the medium term by managing the implementation of the integrated infrastructure development support programme for the post‐school education and training system; ensuring a functioning ministerial advisory committee that provides technical expertise; and providing oversight of the planning, expenditure, monitoring and evaluation of infrastructure delivery.
• Build and manage relations with post‐school education and training sector formations (Universities South Africa, the South African College Principals Organisation, the South African Union of Students, and the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association) by holding ongoing engagements.
7 137 • Facilitate the coordination of economic development, address social challenges in a sustainable manner, and manage and facilitate constructive intergovernmental relations by implementing government’s district development model over the medium term.

Table 5: Programme 2 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.
Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 1: Programme Management: Planning, Policy and Strategy 2: Human Resource Development Council of South Africa 3: Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation International 4.

Relations 5.

Legal Legislative Services and 6.
Social Inclusion and Quality 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 6,1 4,1 - 2,0 - 2,2 -32,79 per cent -35,93 per cent 10,3 12,5 2,2 1,6 21,36 per cent 15,69 per cent 4 468,8 1 532,5 - 2 936,3 - 3 007,9 -65,71 per cent -67,31 per cent 19,1 21,1 2,0 1,0 10,47 per cent 5,31 per cent 20,6 21,4 0,8 - 0,2 3,88 per cent -0,97 per cent 171,0 173,6 2,6 - 5,5 1,52 per cent -3,22 per cent TOTAL 4 695,9 1 765,2 - 2 930,7 - 3 013,2 -62,41 per cent -64,17 per cent Table 5 shows the budget allocation for programme two.
There is an overall decrease in the budget from R4.69 billion in 2022/23 to R1.76 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal decrease of 62.4 per cent and 64.2 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The main contributor to the significant decrease in the overall budget is from sub-programme three of policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation whereby the budget dropped from 4.46 billion in 2022/23 to 1.53 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal decrease of 65.7 per cent and 67.3 per cent when inflation adjusted.
This sub-programme monitors and evaluates the policy outputs of the department; coordinates research in the fields of higher education and training; and ensures that education policies, plans and legislation are 8 138 developed into systems.

The lower budget in 2023/24 for this programme from the previous year is a direct result of the reprioritisation processes targeting the CET college sector and top slicing by National Treasury earmarking Early Child Development.
However, the overall budget will increase from R1.76 billion in 2023/24 to R6.11 billion in 2024/25 owing to the rescheduled infrastructure budget transfers to 2024/25.

4.3.

Programme 3: University Education Programme Objectives: • Ensure an effective and efficient university education system by developing and coordinating three policies, plans, guidelines and regulatory frameworks, and ensuring their implementation, by March 2024.
• Ensure the success of students from poor and working‐class backgrounds by providing financial support, through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, for 1.3 million students to access universities and national institutes for higher education over the medium term.
• Improve student success and efficiency within the public university system by implementing the university capacity development programme and providing a management information and a statistical report for monitoring and evaluation in each year over the medium term.

• Recruit 85 new permanent university academics each year and improve staff demographic profiles by implementing the new generation of academics programme over the medium term.
• Improve the responsiveness of the post‐school education and training system and ensure entrepreneurial development in higher education and international scholarship programmes by revising public university academic planning guidelines to ensure a diverse mix of programmes and qualifications by March 2024.

Table 6: Programme 3 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.
Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 9 139 4,9 5,2 0,3 0,1 6,12 per cent 1,17 per cent 23,7 23,9 0,2 - 0,9 0,84 per cent -3,87 per cent 44 493,8 48 093,9 3 600,1 1 353,6 8,09 per cent 3,04 per cent Programme 1.

Management 2.

Planning University and Institutional Funding Institutional and 3.

Governance Management Support 4.


Higher Education 13,4 15,5 2,1 1,4 15,67 per cent 10,27 per cent Policy Development and Research 5.

Learning Teaching, and Research Development 33,1 29,1 - 4,0 - 5,4 -12,08 per cent -16,19 per cent 6.

University 44 012,8 44 476,9 464,1 - 1 613,5 1,05 per cent -3,67 per cent Subsidies TOTAL 88 581,7 92 644,5 4 062,8 - 264,7 4,59 per cent -0,30 per cent Table 6 shows the budget allocation for programme three.
There is an increase in the overall budget allocation from R88.58 billion in 2022/23 to 92.64 billion in 2023/24, representing a nominal increase of 4.6 per cent, but a slight decrease of 0.3 per cent when inflation adjusted.

Majority of the budget in the programme is allocated to sub-programme three of institutional governance and management support receiving a total of R48.09 billion in 2023/24, reflecting a nominal increase from 8.1 per cent and 3 per cent when inflation adjusted.
Programme 3 will focus its spending on expanding access to PSET opportunities through oversight of enrolment plan for universities monitoring fee regulation framework and updating guidelines for the DHET Bursary scheme.

4.4.
4.4.

Programme 4: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme objectives: • Expand access to post‐school education and training opportunities by planning, developing and implementing 3 policies, 102 strategic or annual performance plans, 2 frameworks, 33 guidelines, 3 programme assessment practices and 3 systems for TVET colleges by March 2024.
10 140 • Improve the success and efficiency of students in the post‐school education and training system over the medium term by: o improving the teaching and learning environment at TVET colleges through the effective use of the TVET infrastructure and efficiency grant.

o operationalising the new examination system, aimed at transforming the conduct of national examinations across the value chain, from the setting of question papers to the certification of successful candidates.
o reducing the certification backlog .

o steering TVET colleges towards greater responsiveness in the provision of skills for the labour market.

o enrolling students in prevocational learning programmes to improve pass and throughput rates.

o improving the competency of TVET college lecturers through dedicated online curriculum training and placement in industry for workplace exposure.
o Reviewing TVET college programmes and qualifications to make them more responsive to and aligned with government priorities.

o o o improving the governance capacity of TVET colleges and intensifying the oversight function of college councils.

increasing the number of TVET college lecturers with professional qualifications through formal university‐based programmes.
improving the competence of TVET college lecturers through various short programmes such as project‐based teaching methodologies and digital skills.

o Improve service delivery for students by mainstreaming occupational programme offerings through the centres of specialisation programme to expand the TVET curriculum and align it more directly with industry requirements, and by establishing 2 additional disability support units at TVET colleges over the medium term.
o Improve opportunities for work placement by developing entrepreneurial and digital skills through the addition of 3 new or reviewed TVET programmes with integrated digital skills training approved by the director‐general by March 2024.

11 141 Table 7: Programme 4 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.
Sub-programme Budget Nominal Real Rand change Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1: Programme 4,2 4,4 0,2 0,0 4,76 per cent -0,13 per cent Management 2: TVET System 11 663,7 11 771,3 107,6 - 442,3 0,92 per cent -3,79 per cent Planning and Institutional support Programmes 3: Qualifications and 27,2 28,4 1,2 - 0,1 4,41 per cent -0,47 per cent 4: National Examinations and Assessment 644,2 674,2 30,0 - 1,5 4,66 per cent -0,23 per cent 5: Technical and 17,3 17,2 - 0,1 - 0,9 -0,58 per cent -5,22 per cent Education Vocational and Training 6: Regional Offices 266,5 259,5 - 7,0 - 19,1 -2,63 per cent -7,18 per cent TOTAL 12 623,1 12 755,0 131,9 - 463,9 1,04 per cent -3,68 per cent Table 7 shows the budget allocation for programme four.
There is an overall slight nominal increase in the budget from R12.62 billion in 2022/23 to R12.76 billion in 2023/24, reflecting a nominal increase of 1 per cent, but a decrease of 3.7 per cent when inflation adjusted.

The majority of the budget in this programme is to sub-programme two of TVET system planning and Institutional support receiving an allocation of R11.66 billion in 2023/24, which is a reduction of 3.8 per cent when inflation adjusted.
This sub-programme provides support to management and councils, monitors and evaluates the performance of the TVET system against set indicators, develops regulatory frameworks for the system, manages and monitors the procurement and distribution of learning and teaching support materials, provides leadership for TVET colleges to enter into partnerships for the use of infrastructure and funding resources, and maps out the institutional landscape for the rollout of the TVET college system.
The reduction of budget in this sub-programme can have a negative impact on the much needed funding within TVET colleges.

4.5.

Programme 5: Skills Development 12 142 Programme Objectives: • Implement the national skills development plan over the MTEF period by ensuring that SETAs comply with service‐level agreements with industry to: o o o identify and increase the production of skilled workers for occupations in demand to create a link between education and work.
improve the level of skills in the South African workforce.

increase access to occupationally directed programmes.

o support the growth of the public college system.

o support skills development for entrepreneurship and cooperative development o encourage and support worker‐initiated training.

o support career development services.
• Improve skills development to support an inclusive growth path by: o producing and certifying 21 000 artisans by March 2024 with the aim of meeting the National Development Plan’s target of producing 30 000 artisans per year by 2030. o prioritising 110 500 workplace‐based learning programmes for learnerships, internships and work‐integrated learning by March 2024. o producing one consolidated report on sectoral occupations in high demand and 21 sector skills plans aligned with the updated sector skills plan framework by March 2024.
Table 8: Programme 5 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.

Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1.

Programme 5,2 6,4 Management 2.

Sector Education 261,2 267,9 1,2 6,7 0,9 23,08 per cent 17,33 per cent - 5,8 2,57 per cent -2,23 per cent and Authorities Training 3.

National Skills Authority Secretariat 17,9 14,7 - 3,2 - 3,9 -17,88 per cent -21,71 per cent 13 143 4.
Development Quality and Promotion 5.

National Artisan Development 28,5 29,7 1,2 - 0,2 4,21 per cent -0,66 per cent 108,7 113,3 4,6 - 0,7 4,23 per cent -0,64 per cent TOTAL 421,5 432,0 10,5 - 9,7 2,49 per cent -2,30 per cent Table 8 shows the budget allocation for programme five.

There is an overall increase in the budget from R421.5 million in 2022/23 to R432 million in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 2.5 per cent, but a 2.3 per cent decrease when inflation adjusted.
Majority of the budget in 2023/24 is allocated to sub-programme two of Sector Education and Training Authorities which was allocated R267.9 million, showing is a real decrease of 2.2 per cent from the previous year.

The budget allocation is below inflation in all sub-programmes except sub-programme one.

This shows that the department will have less spending power than the previous year in this sub programme.

5.
5.

Programme 6: Community Education and Training (CET) Programme objectives: • Contribute towards achieving the outcomes, impact and equity targets outlined in the department’s 2020‐2025 strategic plan by March 2024 by: o implementing the sustainable funding model and diversifying programme offerings in CET colleges geared towards expanded access and responsive colleges implementing the advocacy strategy to support and guide CET colleges to meet their enrolment targets by attracting more young people.
o accrediting 148 community learning centres to provide opportunities for further study to individuals who do not meet the requirements for entry into TVET colleges and other institutions of further learning.

o introducing skills programmes and developing entrepreneurship programmes that seek to address issues of unemployment, poverty and inequality within communities.

o building lecturer capacity to ensure the provision of quality programmes and increased success in CET colleges.
o implementing monitoring and evaluation instruments to enable the department to perform its oversight role of CET colleges effectively.

14 144 o enabling the holistic implementation of norms and standards for funding CET colleges.

o improving the quality of CET provisioning by building the capacity of student leadership, centre managers, management and councils.

o building a CET system that is responsive to the needs of communities by piloting the CET concept in 54 community learning centres.
Table 9: Programme 6 Budget Allocation 2022/23 – 2023/24.

Nominal Rand Real Rand Nominal per Real per cent Sub-programme Budget change change cent change change R million 1.

Management 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 Programme 3,1 4,1 1,0 0,8 32,26 per cent 26,08 per cent 2.

Community Education and Training System Planning, Institutional Development and Support 3.

Community Education and Training Financial Planning and Management 4.
Education, Training and Development Assessment 2 232,7 2 423,4 190,7 77,5 8,54 per cent 3,47 per cent 228,2 223,3 - 4,9 - 15,3 -2,15 per cent -6,72 per cent 17,3 16,9 - 0,4 - 1,2 -2,31 per cent -6,88 per cent TOTAL 2 481,9 2 667,7 186,4 61,8 7,51 per cent 2,49 per cent Table 9 shows the budget allocation for programme six.

There is an overall budget increase from R2.48 billion in 2022/23 to R2.67 billion in 2023/24, which is a nominal increase of 7.5 per cent and a 2.5 per cent increase in real terms.
The highest allocation in this programme is to sub- programme two of Community Education and Training System Planning, Institutional Development and Support, with an allocation of R2.42 billion, which is a real increase of 3.5 per cent from the previous year.
This programme provides support to management and councils, monitors and evaluates the performance of the CET system, develops regulatory frameworks for the system, manages and monitors the procurement and distribution of learning and teaching 15 145 support material, provides leadership for CET colleges to enter into partnerships for the use of infrastructure for college site-hosting centres, and funds these partnerships, maps an institutional landscape for the rollout of the CET system, and is responsible for the planning and development of CET infrastructure.
6.

Transfers to Entities Table 10: Transfers to the DHET Entities 2022/23 – 2023/24 Sub-programme Budget Nominal Rand change Real Rand change Nominal per cent change Real per cent change R million 2022/23 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 2022/23 – 2023/24 1: Council for Higher 108,3 91,7 - 16,6 - 20,9 -15,33 per -19,28 per cent Education 2.

National Skills Fund 3.


National Students Aid Financial Scheme (NSFAS) 3 953,8 4 176,1 222,3 27,2 5,62 per cent 0,69 per cent cent 48 600,5 51 003,4 2 402,9 20,5 4,94 per cent 0,04 per cent TOTAL 52 662,6 55 271,2 2 608,6 26,8 4,95 per cent 0,05 per cent Table 10 shows the budget transfers to the Departmental entities.
The table shows a significant reduction in budget to the Council for Higher Education, dropping from R108 million in 2022/23 to R91.7 million in 2023/24, reflecting a decrease of 19.3 per cent in real terms.

This shows a significant reduction on spending power for the entity.

The entity with the highest increase in budget is to NSFAS with an allocation of R51 billion in 2023/24, which is in line with inflation.

The allocation to the National Skills Fund for 2023/24 is also in line with inflation.

8.
8.

Committee Deliberations on DHET APP and Budget 8.1.

Committee Observations on National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) The Committee, having considered and deliberated on the Annual Performance Plans 2023/24 of the Department of Higher Education and Training made the following key observations and findings: 16 146 • The members cautioned the DHET delegation regarding the challenges students encounter during the admission process at different institutions.
Members were concerned that when parliamentarians attempted to seek clarification on matters affecting their constituencies, the response was either delayed or non-existent, suggesting that this may greatly impact the community.

• Members sought clarity on the PSET's integrated planning framework mentioned by the DG, and the lessons learnt from the previous year.

They wanted to know what had been used to enhance the current framework and how the revised framework would yield positive results.
• Members requested the Department to share the successes and challenges experienced in implementing their TVET entrepreneurship hub, particularly how they had facilitated students’ relationships with key industries and banks.

They inquired whether the TVET courses offered in partnership with the ten universities mentioned by the Department had improved the perception of the quality of TVET qualifications.
• Members enquired about corruption allegations at Fort Hare University and the status of the investigation.

They asked whether the Department had made any efforts or plans to protect whistle-blowers in higher learning institutions.

They also wanted an update on other corruption allegations involving the Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of South Africa, University of Zululand, and Mpumalanga University of Technology.
• Members inquired about the Department's measures to address safety at tertiary institutions and how social concerns like rape that occurred on various campuses were handled.

They questioned why NSFAS had not been given a chance to appear before the Committee and speak on issues affecting students.

They also enquired whether the Department had a plan to curb annual protests by students related to issues such as residences, historic debt, and the NSFAS cap.
• It was noted that approximately 32 students at the rural TVET college in the Northern Cape had not received their diplomas in ten years.

Members wanted to know the reason for the delay after there were repeated attempts to contact the Department about this without success.

There was a similar case of about 22 students at a rural TVET college in Upington who still had not received their certificates so that they 17 147 could go for their trade tests.
Concerning the budget, members inquired whether the funds channelled to TVET colleges would address the infrastructure issues there.

There was also a follow-up question on similar challenges being faced by the TVET college in Sekhukhune.

• Members inquired when the Committee would be able to see the TVET institutions currently under construction, and the size or capacity of the two new universities would be.

How would those colleges respond to the country's challenges?
Members also encouraged the Department to investigate the issue of learners finishing high school and enrolling for university education, as this would shed light on the situation and curb the proliferation of illiterate young people.

• Given the difficulty in obtaining funds for tertiary institutions, members questioned what the real problems with NSFAS might be.
They further inquired about the Department's response to the television exposé that claimed certain TVET college employees demanded bribes before awarding certificates to students.

9.
9.

Response by DHET The Committee, having considered Budget Vote 17: Higher Education and Training, together with the Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Higher Education and Training recommends the following: • The Department expressed regret at the lengthy times Committee Members had to wait each time they attempted to contact the Department, and promised to resolve the issue and ensure it did not happen again.
• In response to the inquiry on safety standards at TVET colleges, the Department reported that there had been a rollout of programmes, but the specifics would be provided to Committee Members later in writing.

It was also reported that the construction work would be completed in this financial year as part of the infrastructure delivery programme.

There were colleges already earmarked for initiation and completion this year.
• In response to the question about infrastructure, the Department responded by stating that they were informed by conditions in specific institutions to ensure that infrastructure allocations addressed the strategic plans of the various institutions and 18 148 what they intended to offer in terms of academic offerings as often and as much as possible.
In working with various stakeholders, the Department would address issues such as accommodation as guided by specific cases and the needs of specific institutions.

• In response to safety at institutions of higher learning, the Department reported that it had intended to increase the impact and reach of the programme it was offering to ensure that it reduced incidents of GBV, and would work with the higher health programme that the Minister would be leading.
The safety programme, which was run in conjunction with the police, had proved successful, but certain institutions still struggled with maintenance issues.

The Department indicated that despite all the difficulties affecting the safety of students, some of these institutions neglected to use their maintenance budgets.
• The reason NSFAS was not coming to the Committee to account was that the Department was working towards ensuring that agencies such as the NSF and NSFAS, which were critical in the delivery of DHET-related work, were held to account by the Department itself.

It continued to engage them on governance issues which had been reported, but it would address the matter of those entities coming before the Committee.
• In responding to the challenges that students face in obtaining their certificates due to the backlog and criminality, the Department responded that they had a tracking system and were working to expedite the delivery of certificates.

They promised to provide a detailed and specific response to Members on a later date.
• In response to infrastructure situation in TVET colleges, the Department reported that there were two sources of funding for TVET infrastructure, the first of which was funding from voted monies that were distributed as subsidies to each of the 15 TVET colleges.

This was mainly related to college plans and funds, primarily for maintaining current infrastructure across the board, such as academic infrastructure, student housing, and so on.
The second funding source came from the National Skills Fund, which had invested R2.8 billion in the 13 colleges.

This was for the entire campus, besides student housing, so it would encompass the administration building, classrooms, and so forth.

It was also reported that strides had been made regarding 19 149 procurement transformation targets, and that legislation is in place to implement that without hindrance.

• The Department indicated that it would follow up on the issue of certificate issuance.
The Department had been operating on the basis of the report received from the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), which had reported that 99.98% of all certificates sent had been issued.

The Department also brought it to the Committee's attention that there were commercial institutions that administered trade examinations, which could be the reason why some students’ certificates were delayed or withheld, but that would need to be looked into to provide further information.
• Concerning the issue of corruption at Fort Hare University, the Department informed the Committee that arrests had been made and that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) had completed its three-year-long investigation.

These developments have helped to stabilise the campus environment.

Responding on the work the Department was doing at Mangosuthu University of Technology, the Department indicated that a report had been given to the Minister by the independent assessor.
The current process is that the Minister will share the report with the Council, and then it will be gazetted and taken to the National Assembly.

The same process will be used for other universities of interest.

10.
10.

Committee recommendations Upon deliberations with DHET, the committee provided the following recommendations to be actioned by the Department: • The reports on the independent investigations/inquiries into governance issues and corruption at the University of Fort Hare, Mangosuthu University of Technology, as well as the University of South Africa (UNISA) are to be sent to the committee by the 30st of June 2023.
• The Department is to conduct an inquiry into the TVET colleges in the Northern Cape and the college in Sekhukhune in Limpopo on all the outstanding certificates that have not been provided to students that have completed their qualifications.

The Department is to ensure that all students with outstanding certificates from these 20 150 TVET colleges receive their certificates by the 30th of June 2023.

The progress report on the issue must be sent to the committee by the 31st of July 2023.
• The committee is to meet with NSFAS as part of its oversight role.

NSFAS is to provide an update on the progress of student funding to tuition and accommodation for the 2023 academic year.

This meeting should occur within the second parliamentary quarter.

• The committee is to meet with the National Skills fund as part of its oversight role to ensuring good governance within the entity.

This meeting should occur within the second parliamentary quarter.
• Members are to visit some of the TVET colleges under construction and those completed during their oversight visit in the third quarter, as part of their oversight role.

• The Department is to provide written feedback on safety standards within TVET colleges to members by the 30th of June 2023.

The Department should also provide detailed written feedback on how they are working with Universities to address student safety and GBV within Universities.

11.
11.

Conclusion Having satisfied itself in its engagement with the Department of Higher Education and Training on their Annual Performance Plan and Budget, the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture recommends that Budget Vote 17: Higher Education and Training be adopted and that the House approves Budget.

Report to be considered.

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